Daily GK Update- 16th May, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Manoj Soni to take oath as UPSC chairman: Manoj Soni has taken oath as the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on May 16, 2023. He administered the oath of office and secrecy as chairman of UPSC by Smita Nagaraj, a senior member of the Commission. He joined the Commission as a member on June 28, 2017, and has been performing the duties of the UPSC chairman since April 5, 2022. He served as VC at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (Gujarat), and Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.

 

2. Govt appoints Ravneet Kaur as CCI Chairperson: A 1988 Punjab cadre IAS officer, Ravneet Kaur has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for five years. She has replaced CCI Member Sangeeta Verma, who has been serving as an acting Chairperson since October 2022. There has been no full-time Chairperson for the competition regulator since Ashok Kumar Gupta was demitted from office. The Chairperson will get a consolidated salary of Rs 4,50,000 per month without a house and car.

 

3. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes over as Deputy Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. He is a qualified flying instructor as well as an experimental test pilot, with over 3,300 hours of flying experience on fighter, trainer, and transport aircraft. He participated in the operations 'Safed Sagar' and 'Rakshak'. He is an alumnus of NDA and was Commissioned in the fighter stream in 1986. He is a graduate of the Staff Course (Bangladesh), and National Defence College (New Delhi).

 

4. Minister Bhupender Yadav launches mobile application Meri LiFE: Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has launched a mobile application named Meri LiFE (My life) in New Delhi. This app is inspired by the concept of LiFE, envisioned by PM Modi at COP 26. This app will showcase the power of citizens, especially young people in saving the environment. Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was launched in October 2022 at Kevadia, Gujarat. Focus: Behaviour changes in individuals through simple easy-to-do actions

 

5. WPI inflation seen below zero in April for first time since July 2020: India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation fell below zero in April 2023 for the first time since July 2020. The WPI inflation fell (-) 0.92% in April 2023, as compared to 1.34 percent recorded in March 2023. Reason: Fall in prices of basic metals, food products, mineral oils, textiles, non-food articles, chemical and chemical products, rubber and plastic products, and paper products It was at 3.85% in February 2023 and 4.73% in January 2023.

 

6. MCA launches C-PACE to simplify striking off of companies from the register: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has set up the Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE). Reason: To centralize the process of striking off companies from the MCA Register The C-PACE will reduce the burden on the registry and provide stakeholders with hassle-free filing, timely and process-bound striking off of their company’s names from the register. The C-PACE institution is established under sub-section (1) of section 396.

 

7. 3rd Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting: The 3rd Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting (ETWG) under India’s G20 Presidency begins in Mumbai from May 15 to 17, 2023. Objective – To facilitate dialogue, knowledge-sharing and cooperation among countries and stakeholders to accelerate the transition to clean, sustainable and affordable energy sources. It will witness participation of over 100 delegates representing several G20 member countries, special invitee nations as well as various International Organizations such as the World Bank, International Energy Agency (IEA) and World Energy Council. The meeting was organized to discuss and address issues related to energy transition in the context of global energy challenges and sustainable development. The first two meetings of the ETWG were held in Bengaluru and Gandhinagar, respectively.

 

8. Himachal CM launched ‘Him Data Portal’: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched a ‘Him Data Portal’ a common digital platform to integrate data of all organizations for the deliverance of welfare schemes and to better serve the public. The state government would start the ‘Him Parivar’ project from July 2023 which will give a special digital identity to the people. The people associated with the Him Pariyojna project would get information about various welfare schemes easily. This will strengthen the state’s benefit delivery systems through ‘Him Pulse’ which would support and enhance the capacity of ‘Him Parivar’ in linking digital identity to the delivery of benefits to the targeted population.

 

9. National Medical Commission makes unique ID mandatory for doctors: The National Medical Commission has passed a new resolution making it mandatory for all doctors to have a Unique Identification Number (UID) to practice medicine in India. As per the new regulation, the UID will be generated centrally by the NMC ethics board and thereby grant the practitioner, registration in NMR and eligibility to practice medicine in India. There will be a common national medical register for all the registered medical practitioners and doctors in the country. The same will be maintained by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) under the NMC. The register will contain all the entries of the registered medical practitioners of all State Registers. It will be maintained by the various State Medical Councils that will have all the detailed relevant information about the doctors. This unique licence will be issued to a registered medical practitioner and will be valid for five years.

 

10. PM addresses 29th Biennial Conference of All India Primary Teachers’ Federation in Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the 29th Biennial Education Conference of All India Primary Teacher’s Federation organized at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. The objective of the conference is to provide a platform for primary teachers to exchange ideas, share experiences and collectively address challenges in primary education. The conference addressed the welfare and rights of primary school teachers, including issues such as pay structure, job security, working conditions, and professional recognition. The conference mainly focused on issues related to primary education, including curriculum development, teaching methods, classroom management and welfare of primary school teachers. Director-General of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus proudly acknowledges that Indian teachers have played a part in every stage of his life since childhood.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Nepali sherpa becomes world's second person to scale Everest 26 times: Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who is also known as Pa Dawa, scaled Mount Everest on May 14, 2023, and become the world's second person to scale Everest 26 times. Kami Rita Sherpa was the first person who climbed Mount Everest 26 times. He reached the summit along with a Hungarian climber. Pa Dawa had climbed the peak 25 times before, including twice in 2022. Since making his first successful of climb of the peak in 1998, Dawa has made the trip almost every year.

 

2. EU approves Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard: European Union regulators have approved Microsoft's proposed acquisition of gaming firm Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. This approval is subject to remedies offered by Microsoft to address antitrust concerns, particularly in the field of cloud gaming. The European Commission (EC) has stated that Microsoft has addressed competition concerns while offering 10-year free licensing deals and fair market access for European consumers and cloud game streaming services.

 

3. India & Bangladesh launch '50 Start-ups Exchange Programme': Under the 50 start-ups exchange program between India and Bangladesh, the first group of 10 start-up companies returned to Dhaka after completing a successful five-day visit to India from 8-12 May 2023. Under this program, 50 Startups from Bangladesh and 50 Startups from India will exchange visits to each other’s countries. Reason: To explore partnerships, expand business relations, share experience and knowledge, and expand youth and entrepreneurial cooperation

 

4. 76th Cannes Film Festival begins in France: The 76th Cannes Film Festival has been started in France on May 16, 2023. The festival has officially kicked off with the world premiere of the Johnny Depp starring film Jeanne Du Barry. MoS for I&B, Dr. L Murugan lead an Indian delegation at the 12-day event, accompanied by filmmaker Guneet Monga and others. The Indian Pavilion has been conceptualized and designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad with the theme - ‘Showcasing India’s Creative Economy’.

 

5. ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 will host by Laos: The annual ASEAN Tourism Forum will be hosted by Laos in January 2024. The theme of the forum will be "Quality and Responsible Tourism -- Sustaining ASEAN Future". The forum will include a tourism exhibition and serves to spur tourism and further service improvement in associated businesses. Previously, Laos hosted the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2004 and 2013. The Lao government is working to promote the country’s potential as a nature-based tourism destination.

6. Health Minister addresses G7 Ministerial meeting on Health Innovation in Japan: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the G7 Health Ministerial meeting on Global Health Architecture in Nagasaki, Japan. The meeting was held to discuss the priorities, implementation and utilization of health innovation like digital health towards ensuring Universal Health Coverage. The health ministers of the G7 countries and the “Outreach 4” countries of India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand were invited to the meeting.

The G7 health ministers discuss various pressing health issues such as infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development, healthcare accessibility, digital health, and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

 

7. Afghanistan reports first polio death of 2023: Afghanistan has reported the first case of poliovirus of 2023. The country’s health authorities detected it in the Nangarhar province. A four-year-old child has been identified as having polio sickness in the region, and up to two cases of wild poliovirus have been found worldwide. A total of 56 cases of polio were reported in Afghanistan in 2020, while four cases were reported in 2021. Two instances of polio were reported last year. The number of polio cases in the country has hence been dropping.

 

8. India Indonesia Bilateral Exercise Samudra Shakti – 23 begins: Indonesia to participate in the 4th edition of India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti-23 in Batam, Indonesia from 14-19 May 23. INS Kavaratti, Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter are participating in the exercise. An Indian Navy Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter are also participating in the exercise. The Indonesian Navy is represented by KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and AS565 Panther helicopters. Samudra Shakti-23 will showcase the high degree of interoperability between the two navies and their shared commitment to peace and stability in the region.

 

9. 16 May – International Day of Living Together in Peace: International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed every year on May 16. Objective – To promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding, and solidarity among individuals and communities worldwide. In 2017, the UN General Assembly solidified its commitment by establishing May 16 as the International Day of Living Together in Peace, promoting inclusion, tolerance, solidarity, and peace among diverse communities worldwide. The International Day of Living Together in Peace is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Telangana's Prraneeth Vuppala becomes 82nd Grandmaster of India: Prraneeth Vuppala (16) from Telangana has become the 82nd Grandmaster of India. He achieved the required 2,500 FIDE rating points during the Baku Open tournament. He had already achieved three GM norms earlier and needed to cross 2,500 rating points. He got the required points after defeating GM Hans Niemann of the USA in the penultimate round of the Baku Open. Prraneeth is now the sixth Grandmaster from the State of Telangana.

 

2. Sumit Mukherjee wins gold at BFAME Championships in Lahore: Sumit Mukherjee from Kolkata has bagged a gold medal in the Bridge Federation of Asia and Middle-East Championship (BFAME) held at Pakistan’s Lahore. Sumit was the only railway staff in the Indian contingent which had 24 members. The Indian team participated in games that were divided in four categories, namely: open, ladies, mixed and senior. Sumit Mukherjee represented India in the open category. The teams that played under each category had six players in it. Sumit bagged one gold medal and the Indian team bagged 4 gold medals in 4 categories.

 

3. Telangana’s Vuppala Prraneeth became India’s 82nd Grandmaster: A 15-year-old chess player from Telangana, Prraneeth has achieved the title of Grandmaster, becoming the sixth from the state and the 82nd in India. He secured this milestone by defeating GM Hans Niemann from the US during the penultimate round of the Baku Open 2023. Prraneeth obtained his first GM-norm and the title of International Master (IM) at the First Saturday tournament in March 2022. He also earned his second GM-norm at Biel MTO in July 2022, followed by his final GM-norm at the second Chessable Sunway Formentera Open 2023 after nine months.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes penalty on Mizoram Rural Bank, Tripura Gramin Bank: RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 5 lakh on Mizoram Rural Bank and 2 lakh rupees on Tripura Gramin Bank for contravention of various norms. Reason: Both banks have failed to categorize certain loan accounts as non-performing in line with the Income Recognition and Asset Classification (IRAC) norms The bank was asked to provide a justifiable reason as to why a penalty should not be imposed for its non-compliance with the directions.

 

2. NPCI introduces CVV-less payments for tokenised cards: RuPay has introduced the CVV (Card Verification Value) free payment experience for its debit, credit, and prepaid cardholders who have tokenized their cards on the merchant application or webpage. It ensures that the cardholder will not have to reach out to their wallet or remember card details if they have saved their card on the e-commerce merchant. Tokenization is a simple technology to secure card transactions without sharing real card details with the merchants.

 

3. IRDAI sets up expert panel for matters related to mental health: IRDAI has constituted a five-member expert committee to advise it on matters related to mental health and insurance. The committee is headed by Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS, Bangalore. The panel will advise on coverages offered/to be offered under insurance products, for mental illnesses. The panel will also provide expert advice/inputs on terminology, concept, and the like on matters relating to mental illnesses from the medical domain perspective.

Daily GK Update- 15th May, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IPS Officer Praveen Sood appointed as next Director of CBI: A 1986 batch IPS officer and the current Karnataka DGP, Praveen Sood was appointed as the new CBI director for a period of two years. He would replace current CBI Director Subodh Jaiswal, who will retire on May 25, 2023. He started his career in Mysore as Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1989. Later, he served as Superintendent of Police, Bellary, and Raichur before being posted in Bengaluru as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

 

2. Himachal CM Sukhu launches 'Him Data Portal': Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched a 'Him Data Portal' a common digital platform to integrate data of all organizations for the deliverance of welfare schemes and to better serve the public. The people associated with the Him Pariyojna project would get information about various welfare schemes easily. From July 2023, the HP government would start the Him Parivar project which will give a special digital identity to the people of the State.

 

3. PM Modi lays foundation stone worth INR 4,400 crores in Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth Rs 4400 crores in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The projects inaugurated include augmentation of multi-village drinking water supply schemes in Banaskantha district, river overbridge in Ahmedabad and sewage treatment plants in Mehsana and Ahmedabad. The projects whose foundation stone were laid include bulk pipeline project in Junagadh district, augmentation of water supply schemes in Gandhinagar district and various town planning roads among others. PM also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of PMAY (rural and urban) projects worth around 1950 crores rupees and participated in Gruh Pravesh of around 19,000 houses built under the scheme by handing over keys to beneficiaries of the scheme during the program. The projects include PM Awas Yojna (PMAY) projects worth INR 1,950 crores. PMAY houses include Swachh Bharat Abhiyan toilets, Saubhagya scheme electricity connections, free LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme, and piped water under JJM (Jal Jeevan Mission).

 

4. MHA to organize “G20 Conference on Crime and Security” in July 2023: The Ministry of Home Affairs will organize the “G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the Age of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), Al and Metaverse” on 13th and 14th July 2023 in Gurugram, Haryana. The event will be held in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Rashtriya Raksha University, National Forensic Science University, National Law School of India University, Interpol and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime are the organising partners for the event that will be held in Haryana’s Gurugram.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. The first meeting of India-EU trade, technology Council at Brussels: The first ministerial-level meeting of the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council will be held b on May 16, 2023. Aim: To discuss ways to increase cooperation in strategic technologies, digital connectivity, clean energy, trade, and investments Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal will co-chair the meeting along with EAM S Jaishankar and MoS, Electronics and information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

 

2. Gucci appoints Alia Bhatt as its global ambassador: Actor Alia Bhatt has been appointed as the global ambassador for luxury fashion brand Gucci, becoming the first Indian to represent the esteemed Italian brand worldwide. She will make her inaugural appearance as Gucci’s newest global ambassador during the upcoming Gucci Cruise 2024 show in Seoul. Gucci is an Italian high-end luxury fashion house based in Florence, Italy. Its product lines include handbags, ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, home decoration, etc.

 

3. Elon Musk appoints Linda Yaccarino as Twitter CEO: Linda Yaccarino has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Twitter. Prior to this, she was serving as the head of advertising at NBCUniversal. She had served 19 years at Turner Entertainment and has been credited with dragging the network's ad sales operation into the digital future. She is an alumna of Penn State University, having studied liberal arts and telecommunications. In October 2022, Elon Musk completed $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.

 

4. China launches projects to build 'new-era' marriage, childbearing culture: China will launch pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a "new-era" marriage and childbearing culture to foster a friendly childbearing environment. Aim: To boost the country's falling birth rate China's Family Planning Association will launch projects to encourage women to marry and have children. Cities included in the pilot include the manufacturing hub Guangzhou and Handan in China's Hebei province.

 

5. 7th UN Global Road Safety Week: 15th -21st May 2023: The 7th UN Global Road Safety Week is being observed from 15-21 May 2023 to raise awareness about road safety and the importance of taking steps to prevent accidents 2023 slogan: #RethinkMobility The week is organized by the WHO and the UN regional commissions and supported by governments, NGOs, and individuals. The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 reflects an ambitious target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.

 

6. International Day of Families 2023: 15th May: International Day of Families is celebrated on May 15 to raise awareness of the importance of families and their role in society. 2023 theme: Demographic Trends and Families The UN adopted a resolution in 1994 establishing the International Day of Families to celebrate the institution of family and to raise awareness regarding the issues faced by families. It acknowledges the role of families in promoting social and economic development.

 

7. UAE’s Sharjah Police launches ‘Stay in your lane’ campaign: UAE’s Sharjah Police launched a traffic campaign, “stay in your lane” in May to curb road lane violations. The campaign aims to improve traffic culture among drivers and other road users by increasing awareness and promoting adherence to traffic rules and instructions. The campaign includes the dissemination of awareness messages in three different languages through the social networking sites of the Sharjah Police.

 

8. Geeta Rao Gupta appointed US Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues: The US Senate has appointed Indian-American Geeta Rao Gupta as the ‘Ambassador at Large for global issues related to women at the State Department. Gupta’s nomination has won by 51-47 votes in the US Senate. Gupta is known internationally as a leader in promoting gender equality and women’s economic security. Gupta worked closely with various United Nations (UN) agencies and programs. She worked as the Executive Director of the UN Foundation’s 3D Programme for Girls and Women. She also advises the UNAIDS Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and is on the boards of InterAction and the Moriah Fund.

 

9. 15 May – International Day of Families: International Day of Families is observed every year on 15 May. This day offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant role that these social units play in our lives and to acknowledge the challenges that families face today. Theme 2023 – Demographic Trends and Families This day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. The first International Day of the Family was observed in 1994, and is observed annually on 15 May.

 

10. 15 – 21 May – UN Global Road Safety Week: UN Global Road Safety Week is observed every year on 15 to 21 May. Objective – To raise awareness about road safety and the importance of taking steps to prevent accidents. The week is organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN regional commissions, and it is supported by a wide range of partners, including governments, NGOs, businesses, and individuals. The week was first marked in 2007. This year 7th UN Global Road Safety Week will take this year from 15-21 May 2023.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. London stock exchange group to set up technology centre in Hyderabad: Global financial markets infrastructure and data provider London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) will be establishing a technology centre of excellence (CoE) in Hyderabad. Which will be generating employment for about 1,000 people in a year. The setting up of the CoE will be a significant boost to the BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) sector in the city and expected to create ample employment opportunities and drive growth in the industry. The LSEG has significant operations in 70 countries across EMEA, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. It employs 23,000 people globally, with more than half located in Asia Pacific.

 

2. RBI launches 100 days campaign to settle unclaimed deposits: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched the ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign for banks to trace and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits of every bank in every district of the country within 100 days. This measure will complement the ongoing efforts and initiatives by the Reserve Bank to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits in the banking system and return such deposits to their rightful owners/claimants. At present, the depositors and beneficiaries of unclaimed bank deposits of 10 years or more have to go through the website of multiple banks to locate such deposits. Now, in order to improve and widen the access of depositors or beneficiaries to information on such unclaimed deposits it has been decided to develop a web portal.

 

3. Bank of Baroda launches electronic bank guarantee on its digital platform: State-owned Bank of Baroda has launched of electronic bank guarantee (e-BG) on its BarodaINSTA platform, in partnership with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL). NeSL is India’s first and only Information Utility and is regulated by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). Electronic bank guarantee is a start-to-end digital process across the complete lifecycle of a BG including issuance, amendment and closure resulting in substantial reduction in the turnaround time in issuing a BG, while at the same time bringing in greater security and accessibility. The conventional paper-based process of issuing inland Bank Guarantees normally takes a few days to execute from BG issuance to receipt by the beneficiary.

 

4. RBI imposes Rs 2.92 Cr penalty on Canara Bank: RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 2.92 crore on Canara Bank for violation of various norms, including linking interest rates to external benchmarks and opening savings accounts of ineligible entities The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted a statutory inspection for supervisory evaluation of the bank with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2021. A scrutiny of the bank was carried out by RBI in July 2020 based on a high-value fraud reported by another bank. After scrutiny, the RBI found that the bank failed to link interest on floating-rate retail loans and loans to MSME to an external benchmark.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ben Whishaw wins best leading actor at BAFTA 2023: Ben Whishaw has received the best leading actor award for his role in 'This is Going to Hurt (BBC One)' at the BAFTA TV Awards 2023. While Kate Winslet won the leading actress award for her role in I Am Ruth (Channel 4).

Otherawards:

·       Drama series: Bad Sisters (Apple TV Plus)

·       Mini-series: Mood (BBC Three)

·       International: Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)

·       Supporting actor: Adeel Akhtar – Sherwood (BBC One)

 

2. TDB/DST conferred National Technology Awards 2023: Technology Development Board (TDB) has conferred the National Technology Awards 2023 in five categories: Main, MSME, Startup, Translational Research, and Technology Business Incubator. T-Hub Foundation, Telangana has received the National Technology Awards 2023 in Technology Business Incubator. T-Hub (Technology Hub) is an innovation hub and ecosystem enabler. T-Hub leads India’s pioneering innovation ecosystem and is the world’s largest innovation campus.

 

3. Cochin Port bagged the Sagar Shreshtha Sammaan Award 2023: Cochin Port has bagged Sagar Shreshta Award of Ministry of Ports Shipping & Waterways for best performance among all Indian Major Ports for best turnaround time in non-container port category, during the year 2022-23. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has given the award to M. Beena, Chairperson, Cochin Port Authority at a function held in New Delhi. The port recorded 48 hours in turning around vessels of an average parcel size of 43,800 MT. The turnaround time is an important performance parameter.

Daily GK Update- 14th May, 2023

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.