Today's Current Affairs 29th May 2023

NATIONAL

PM Modi Flags Off Maiden Vande Bharat For the North East Region in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, (29 May) virtually flagged off the maiden Vande Bharat Express train for the northeast in Assam that will run from Guwahati to West Bengal's New Jalpaiguri Station. The latest Vande Bharat Express will cover the journey in about five-and-a-half hours, while the current fastest train takes around six-and-a-half hours to cover the same distance.

Prime Minister also dedicated 182 Route Kms of newly electrified sections. This will help provide pollution free transportation with trains running at higher speed and reduced running time of trains. It will also open the doors for trains running on electric traction to enter Meghalaya.

He also inaugurated a newly constructed DEMU/MEMU shed at Lumding in Assam. This new facility will be helpful for maintaining DEMU rakes operating in this region, leading to better operational feasibility.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni arrives in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India

King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni arrived in New Delhi this afternoon on a three-day visit to India from May 29 – 31. Joined by a 27-member high-level official delegation, the Cambodian King arrived here in New Delhi on a three-day official visit and was received by MoS MEA Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.

The King will have bilateral meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning following which he will pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will call on the King. President Murmu will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary in the evening.

Sudarshan Shakti Exercise 2023

Recently, The Sapta Shakti Command of the Indian Army conducted exercise ‘Sudarshan Shakti 2023’ along the western borders in Rajasthan and Punjab, It aimed at starting the transformation of the forces into a modern, lean, and agile fighting combination capable of leveraging new-age technologies.

The exercise was designed to validate operational plans in a network-centric environment with elements of combat power, combat support and logistic support. These elements were exercised in a synergised application under all domains of enemy threat including Grey Zone Warfare as part of high tempo operations. This exercise also facilitated in meeting the stated objectives of five pillars of transformation enunciated by COAS General Manoj Pande in January 2023.

Scope and objectives - Integrated use of force multipliers like special forces and niche technologies covering drones, tethered drones, loiter ammunition as well as key aspects of electronic warfare made it a unique event.

SPORTS

CSK win fifth IPL title beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) claimed a record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) crown with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in a rain-affected but exciting match in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat.

After being asked to bat first, Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four. B Sai Sudharsan hit 96 in 47 balls. However, after rain interrupted play, the target for CSK was reset to 171 in 15 overs.

IPL Purple Cap Winner 2023 - Mohammed Shami of Gujarat Titans won the Purple Cap in IPL 2023 with 28 wickets in 16 matches.

IPL Orange Cap Winner 2023 - Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill won the Orange Cap in IPL 2023 with 890 runs in 17 matches.

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

ISRO successfully launches its next-generation navigational satellite – NVS-01

ISRO’s GSLV f 12 rocket with NVS – 01 satellite was successfully launched at 10.42 from Sriharikota today – 29 May. The rocket lifted off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre and injected NVS -01 satellite in its geosynchronous orbit.

The satellite weighing 2232 kilograms is the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for the Navigation with Indian Constellation series.

India will join three other nations in setting up not only a constellation series but also on the operationalisation of the rubidium clock made indigenously.

Scientists gathered at the Centre expressed happiness and satisfaction at the functioning of the satellite so far. The orbit-raising manoeuvres will be used for taking the satellite to the destined level in two days.

The datas from the satellite will be used for individual and strategic purposes. The Chairman, ISRO, Somnath was jubilant in announcing the launch of Chandrayaan – 3 in July this year. ISRO looks forward to sending some more GSLV, PSLV missions and also projects with NASA.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Praveen Kumar Srivastava sworn in as Central Vigilance Commissioner

Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Kumar Srivastava was sworn in as the Central Vigilance Commissioner by President Droupadi Murmu, Mr. Srivastava was working as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) since December last year after completion of Suresh N. Patel's tenure as the chief of the probity watchdog. He is a 1988-batch retired Indian Administrative Service officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of UN Peacekeepers

The General Assembly, in its resolution 57/129, designated 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This is the date when in 1948 the first UN peacekeeping mission named the "United Nations Truce Supervision Organization", or UNTSO, began operations in Palestine.

On this day, we pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication and courage of all the men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations, and honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

UN Peacekeeping operations use the Day to strengthen bonds with the local populations that they have been deployed to serve. For example by holding sporting events, school and orphanage visits, art and essay competitions, photo exhibits, neighbourhood clean ups, tree plantings, concerts, and conferences and workshops on peace issues.

Theme - The 2023 theme, “Peace begins with me”, calls on each of us to join the global movement for peace, while recognizing the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers past and present, including the over 4200 peacekeepers who have given their lives under the UN flag.

 BOOKS & AUTHOR

Dr Vijay Darda’s new book ‘RINGSIDE’ to be released by Shashi Tharoor

“RINGSIDE – Up, Close and Personal on India and Beyond”, a new book written by Chairman of the Editorial Board of Lokmat Media Group and former MP Dr Vijay Darda will be released by renowned author and Congress MP Dr Shashi Tharoor on May 30. The event will be held at the Speaker Hall of the Constitution Club of India on Rafi Marg in New Delhi

The book is a captivating compilation of Darda’s weekly articles, which were published in the Lokmat Media Group newspapers and other prominent national and regional dailies of the country between 2011 and 2016. As a follow-up to his earlier book “Straight Thoughts”, which encompassed articles from 2004 to 2011, this latest work delves into a diverse range of subjects beyond political developments and happenings,