Today's Current Affairs 20th May 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Prime Minister unveils Mahatma Gandhi Bust in Hiroshima

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima, Japan. The Mahatma Gandhi bust has been gifted by the Government of India to the city of Hiroshima as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between India and Japan, on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister for the G-7 summit from 19-21 May 2023.

The 42 inches tall bronze bust has been sculpted by Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Ram Vanji Sutar. The bust site, adjacent to the Motoyasu River, is close to iconic A-Bomb Dome that is visited by thousands of people - locals and tourists alike - every day. The location has been chosen as a mark of solidarity for peace and non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi dedicated his life to peace and non-violence. The location truly resonates with the principles and life of Gandhiji, which continue to inspire the world and its leaders.

NATIONAL

Siddaramaiah sworn in as CM of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar takes oath as Deputy CM

Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka, along with the Karnataka Congress president D.K Shivakumar as the Deputy Chief Minister. The Oath of office was administered by Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Congress MLAs Dr G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa, KJ George, MB Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, Ramalinga Reddy and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan took oath as the ministers in the state cabinet.

India’s Operation Karuna provides humanitarian aid to Cyclone Mocha victims in Myanmar

In keeping with its tradition of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, India as the first responder to natural disasters in the region started Operation Karuna to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) materials for the people of Myanmar affected by Cyclone Mocha,

Three ships INS Shivalik, INS Kamorta and INS Savitri brought around 40 tonnes of materials, and The fourth ship INS Gharial brought additional materials, mostly medicines and medical items,

The relief materials carried by the 4 ships have 14 pallets of essential items of use (edible and non-edible) and 16 medical pallets. INS Gharial also contains portable medical container facility with the capacity for 120 bedded hospital. The medical pallets contain first aid items, antibiotics, anti-histamines, analgesics, intravenous fluids for commonly spread infections and diseases.

Indian Navy's sixth and final Kalvari Class Submarine, Vaghsheer commences sea trials

The Indian Navy's sixth and final Kalvari class submarine, Vaghsheer, has begun its sea trials. Vaghsheer is scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy in early 2024 after completion of these trial. The submarine was launched on 20th April 2022 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).

About Submarine Vagsheer - Vagsheer is named after the sand fish, a deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean. Vagsheer is a diesel attack submarine, designed to perform sea denial as well as access denial warfare against the adversary. It is enabled with a C303 anti-torpedo countermeasure system. It can carry up to 18 torpedoes or Exocet anti-ship missiles, or 30 mines in place of torpedoes. Its superior stealth features include advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimized shape, and it can launch a crippling attack using precision guided weapons, underwater or on surface.

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

ISRO likely to launch NVS-01 navigation satellite on May 29

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is likely to launch NVS-01, a navigation satellite on-board the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle or GSLV Mk-II,

The launch of NVS-01 is scheduled around May 29. This will be a return flight mission for the GSLV launch vehicle, which will carry the next generation NavIC satellite. This satellite will replace the IRNSS-1G satellite launched in 2016,

RNSS-1G was the seventh navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS space segment. Its predecessors—IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F—were launched by PSLV-C22, PSLV-C24, PSLV-C26, PSLV-C27, PSLV-C31 and PSLV-C32 in July 2013, April 2014, October 2014, March 2015, January 2016 and March 2016, respectively.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Bee Day

World Bee Day is an annual observance held on May 20th to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators for the environment, agriculture, and human well-being. Pollinators are crucial to the sustainable development of our planet, and the Day aims to raise awareness about their threat and importance.

World Bee Day promotes efforts to protect and conserve bees and highlights their importance. The campaign aims to educate people about pollinators and the challenges they face, such as habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and disease.

The United Nations introduced World Bee Day in 2017 to bring focus to the essential role played by bees and other pollinators in our ecosystems. May 20th was selected as the date to honor the birthday of Anton Janša, a Slovenian beekeeping pioneer and renowned bee expert

Theme - The United Nations introduced World Bee Day in 2017 to bring focus to the essential role played by bees and other pollinators in our ecosystems. May 20th was selected as the date to honor the birthday of Anton Janša, a Slovenian beekeeping pioneer and renowned bee expert

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

PM Modi attends G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan; Holds bilateral meetings with top leaders of Japan, South Korea and Vietnam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on Saturday20th May. He was welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Japan, President of South Korea and Prime Minister of Vietnam. During the meeting with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, both the leaders discussed ways to enhance India-Japan friendship across different sectors including trade, economy and culture, ways to synergise efforts of their respective G7 and G20 Presidencies, and the need to highlight the voice of Global South.

The broad terms of the G7 Summit preferences include nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and security, regional issues, climate and energy, food and health and development. There are other priorities also like digitisation and science and technology which will be highlighted during several sessions at the Summit. Japan has also invited Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, Indonesia, South Korea, and Vietnam and some of the international organisations including the UN.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI Announces Withdrawal of ₹2000 Banknotes from Circulation

In a surprise move, the Reserve Bank announced withdrawal of ₹2,000 currency notes from circulation but gave public time till September 30 to either deposit such notes in accounts or exchange them at banks.

Unlike the November 2016 shock demonetisation when old ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes were invalidated overnight, the ₹2,000 notes will continue to be a legal tender till September 30.

Why are ₹2,000 denomination banknotes being withdrawn - The ₹2,000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016 under Section 24(1) of the RBI Act, 1934 primarily with the objective to meet the currency requirement of the economy in an expeditious manner after withdrawal of the legal tender status of all ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes in circulation at that time. With the fulfilment of that objective and the availability of banknotes in other denominations in adequate quantities, the printing of ₹2,000 banknotes was stopped in 2018-19.