Important Current Affairs 15th May 2021

INTERNATIONAL

Jacinda Ardern is the Tops Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders 2021

•New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has topped the ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’ list for 2021, released by Fortune Magazine. The ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’ list for 2021 is the eighth edition of the annual list which celebrates leaders, some well-known and others who aren’t so familiar, who made a difference amid the “truly unprecedented times” of the C-19 pandemic.

•From India, Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Serum Institute of India (SII) is the only Indian among the top 10 names. He is placed in the 10th spot.

NATIONAL

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Declared Malerkotla as 23rd District

•Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has declared Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the state on May 14, 2021, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

•Malerkotla is a Muslim-dominated area and has been carved out of the Sangrur district of the state. The government had promised that Malerkotla will be declared a district soon in 2017.

Airline Company GoAir Rebranded itself as ‘Go First’

•Wadia Group-owned, GoAir has rebranded itself as ‘Go First’, with the new motto “You Come First”. The decision to rebrand after 15 years is part of the company’s attempt to operate the carrier in an ULCC (ultra-low-cost carrier) airline model, to tide over the impact of the C-19-19 pandemic.

•Go First will operate narrow-body aircraft across its fleet, comprising Airbus A320 and A320 Neos (new engine option) planes under ULCC plans. This will not only ensure the safety, comfort and time-saving for the passengers but also help them to experience the benefits of the next-gen fleet, at ultra-low-cost fares, so that their travel plans are never hampered.

OBITUARY

Senior IPS officer Mohammed Jawed Akhtar Passed away due to C-19

•Senior IPS officer Mohammed Jawed Akhtar, who was posted as DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards at the Centre, on Friday succumbed to C-19. He is the first serving DG-level officer to die of C-19 infection.

•Akhtar, 59, was due to retire in July this year. As per a PTI report, he was admitted to a private hospital in Delhi after testing positive for C-19 and breathed his last early on Friday.

•Only last month, former DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Arun Choudhary had died of C-19. Even former CBI director Ranjit Sinha’s death last month is believed to have been caused by C-19-related complications.

Times Group Chairperson Indu Jain Passed Away due to C-19

•Pioneering philanthropist and Times Group Chairperson, Indu Jain has passed away due to C-19-related complications. The prominent Indian media personality, Indu Jain was the chairperson of India’s largest media group, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., which is popularly known as the Times Group, which owns the Times of India and other large newspapers.

•Being a spiritualist, Jain had a deep knowledge of ancient scriptures and was the follower of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. Besides this, Jain was also passionate about women’s rights and was the founder president of Ficci Ladies Organisation (FLO).

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

KP Oli Re-appointed as Prime Minister of Nepal

•In Nepal, KP Sharma Oli was re-appointed as the Prime Minister of the country by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. Oli was administered the oath of office by the President on May 14, 2021. Now, he must prove that he has majority support in the House within 30 days. This will be his third stint as Prime Minister. He was first appointed as PM from 12 October 2015 to 4 August 2016, and then again from 15 February 2018 to 13 May 2021.

•The decision to re-appoint Oli was taken after none of the opposition party could secure majority seats in the House to form a new government or apply for it in the provided time frame (by 9 pm on 13 May 2021).

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Families 2021: 15 May

•The International Day of Families is observed every year on 15 May to reflect the importance that the international community attaches to families. This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. The theme of 2021 is “Families and New Technologies”.

•In 1993, the UN General Assembly decided in a resolution that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Eighth Installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi released

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently released the eighth installment of Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi. The Government of India transfers Rs 6,000 to the account of small and marginal farmers. These funds are transferred in three installments. The first installment of Rs 2,000 is made between April and June. The second Installment is made between August and November. The third installment is made between December and March.

•The scheme was begun in 2018.

•The scheme provides financial support to farmers who hold land ownership up to two hectares.