INTERNATIONAL

China becomes the world’s first country to ban all synthetic cannabinoids substances

•China will become the world’s first country to ban all synthetic cannabinoid substances. The ban is likely to come into effect on July 1. The move comes as China tries to curb the manufacturing & trafficking of the drug. The synthetic cannabinoids are highly camouflaged, as some are found in e-cigarette oil, and some are found in cut tobacco made from various flower petals, or plant stems and leaves. In Xinjiang, it has a commonly known nickname of “Natasha.”

•Synthetic cannabinoids are highly camouflaged, as some are found in e-cigarette oil & some are found in cut tobacco made from leaves, flower petals, etc.

World-renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough named COP26 People’s Advocate

•Sir David Attenborough, world-renowned broadcaster & natural historian, has been named COP26 People’s Advocate for the U.K.’s Presidency of UN climate change summit in Glasgow this November. Attenborough has already inspired millions of people in the U.K. & around the world with his passion & knowledge to act on climate change and protect the planet for future generations.

NATIONAL

Aadhar card not mandatory for C-19 treatment

•Aadhaar is not compulsory for availing of vaccines, medicines, hospitalisation or treatment, and no one should be denied any service for want of the 12-digit number, the Unique Identification Authority of India said on Saturday.

•The clarification came after reports said people were denied hospitalisation, vaccination and oxygen if they did not show their Aadhaar.

Uttarakhand Police has launched ‘Mission Hausla’

•The Uttarakhand Police has launched a drive called “Mission Hausla” to help people get oxygen, beds, ventilators, and plasma for C-19 patients. Besides these, police will also help the public to get medicines meant for C-19 management as part of the mission and rations.

•Delivering medicines, oxygen and ration at the doorsteps of families battling the coronavirus and coordinating between plasma donors and those in need of it will also be some of the activities to be taken up by the police as part of the mission. Police stations will serve as nodal centres for managing crowds in market areas and ensuring C-19 appropriate behaviour by people like wearing masks and social distancing in public places, he said. Stern action will be taken against those who violate the norms.

SPORTS

Bhullar First Indian-origin fighter to win MMA title

•In the main event, Arjan "Singh" Bhullar dethroned longtime heavyweight king Brandon "The Truth" Vera to capture the ONE Heavyweight World Title and become the first Indian-origin Mixed Martial Arts World Champion in history.

•Asia's largest global sports media property, returned Saturday with ONE: DANGAL, a tape-delayed event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium that showcased the very best of India.

•The event featured the ONE Super Series debut of a Thai striking phenom and four compelling mixed martial arts contests, including a battle for the ONE Heavyweight World Title. In the main event, Arjan "Singh" Bhullar dethroned longtime heavyweight king Brandon "The Truth" Vera to capture the ONE Heavyweight World Title and become the first Indian-origin Mixed Martial Arts World Champion in history.

OBITUARY

Mathematician MS Narasimhan passed away

•Born on June 7, Narasimhan passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday (May 16).

•Mudumbai Seshachalu Narasimhan FRS was an Indian mathematician. He is known, along with C. S. Seshadri, for their proof of the Narasimhan–Seshadri theorem, and both were elected as Fellows of the Royal Society. He has been the only Indian to receive the King Faisal International Prize in the field of science.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

(BCCI) appointed Ramesh Powar Head Coach of Indian Women’s Cricket team

•The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the appointment of Ramesh Powar as the Head Coach of Team India (Senior Women).

•The three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sulakshana Naik, Madan Lal and Rudra Pratap Singh interviewed the applicants and unanimously agreed on Powar’s candidature. A former international, Powar played 2 Tests and 31 ODIs for India.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI cancelled the licence of United Co-operative Bank

•Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of United Co-operative Bank Ltd over inadequate capital, regulatory non-compliance, based in Bagnan, West Bengal. Through an order dated May 10, 2021, the central bank has prohibited the co-operative lender from carrying on banking business, with effect from the close of business on May 13, 2021.

•RBI said it cancelled the licence as United Co-operative Bank did not have adequate capital and earning prospects. “As such, it does not comply with the provisions of section 11(1) and section 22(3)(d) read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Airtel Payments Bank launched “DigiGold”

•Airtel Payments Bank has launched “DigiGold”, a digital platform for customers to make investments in gold. This has been rolled out in partnership with SafeGold, a provider of digital gold. With DigiGold, Airtel Payments Bank’s saving account customers can invest in 24K gold using the Airtel Thanks app. Customers can also gift DigiGold to their family and friends, who have a savings account with Airtel Payments Bank.

•The gold purchased by customers is stored securely by SafeGold at no additional cost and can be sold through the Airtel Thanks app at any time in a matter of few clicks. There is no minimum investment value requirement and customers can start with as low as one rupee. Airtel Payments Bank recently increased its savings deposit limit to Rs.2 lakh in line with RBI guidelines. It now offers an increased interest rate of 6% on deposits between Rs.1-2 lakh.

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.

INTERNATIONAL

WHO classified Indian C-19 variant as a “global variant of concern”

•The World Health Organization has classified a C-19 variant found in India as a global “variant of concern”. This variant has been named B.1.617. According to World Health Organization, this variant is already spread to more than 30 countries. It is more transmissible than other variants. This variant is also called the “double mutant variant”. It was 1st identified by the United Kingdom health authorities.

•The B.1.617 variant is the fourth variant of C-19 classified by the WHO. It has two mutations referred to as E484Q and L452R.

OBITUARY

Arjuna-winning veteran paddler Chandrasekar passes away due to C-19

•Three-time National table tennis champion and former International paddler V. Chandrasekar passed away due to C-19-related complications. He was the current president of Tamizhaga Table Tennis Association (TTTA).

•The 63-year-old Chandrasekar, a 1982 Arjuna Award winner. Chandra’s autobiography with Seetha Srikanth, My fightback from Death’s Door published in 2006.

Freedom fighter Anup Bhattacharya passes away

•Freedom fighter and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra musician, Anup Bhattacharya passed away. During the liberation war of Bangladesh, he worked as the composer and music director at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. He is also a founder member of the Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha.

•His ever-present liberation songs including “Teer Hara Ei Dheu-er Sagor,” “Rokto Diye Naam Likhhechhi,” “Purbo Digonte Surjo Utheche,” and “Nongor Tolo Tolo” inspired the liberation war fighters during 1971. Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was the medium for radio broadcasting in 1971.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Manisha Kapoor joins executive committee of ICAS

•Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) announced that its general secretary Manisha Kapoor has been appointed to the executive committee of the International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS). Until April, ASCI served on the executive committee as a member for a two-year term. Now, Kapoor will play a leadership role on the committee till 2023. She will be one of the four global vice-presidents on the executive committee.

•In her role as part of the ICAS leadership team, she will promote advertising self-regulation as an optimal mechanism for consumer protection, strengthen ICAS as a global alliance and facilitate knowledge sharing among SROs to establish best practices and monitor global trends in advertising ecosystem that impact self-regulation. She will also work closely with established and emerging digital platforms to make the online space more transparent and fair for consumers.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Rajeev taranath to get Basavashree award

•Classical musician Pandit Rajeev Taranath and space scientist Dr K Kasturirangan will receive the prestigious Basavashree award for 2019 and 2020, respectively, announced Murugha Mutt pontiff Dr Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru on Friday.

•The seer, on the occasion of Basava Jayanti celebrations, said Pt Rajeev Taranath, born in Bangalore on October 17, 1932, gave his first public performance when he was just nine years old. He was singing for All India Radio before he was 20. He was trained in Sarod under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pt Ravishankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Aashish Khan and Annapoornadevi.

Nuku Phom wins Whitely Award 2021

•An environmentalist from Nagaland’s remote Longleng district has won this year’s Whitley Awards 2021, also known as the Green Oscar. Nuklu Phom’s name, along with that of five others, was announced Wednesday evening in a virtual award ceremony organised by the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN).

•The award recognises Phom’s efforts at establishing a new biodiversity peace corridor changing the fate of Amur Falcons, which come to roost in Nagaland each year, from being hunted by locals. Worth £40,000, the award is for creating a new network of community-owned forests to protect Amur Falcons and increase biodiversity in Nagaland.

Shakuntala Hark Singh of Indian origin receives World Food Award 2021

•Indian-origin global nutritionist, Dr Shakuntala Hark Singh Thilstad has received the “World Food Award” of the year 2021. She developed a holistic and nutritionally sensitive approach to seafood and food systems and has received an award for his research. The award is also known as the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture. Every year, the committee selects a person who will be awarded the $ 250,000 title and prize money.

•The World Food Award stated on its website that research conducted by Dr Shakuntala on the small fish species of Bangladesh will prove helpful in developing a nutritionally sensitive approach to the seafood system at all levels. With this help, millions of poor people living in Asia and Africa will get a very nutritious diet.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Google Pay users in US can now transfer money to India, Singapore

•Alphabet Inc’s Google has launched international money transfer partnerships with remittances firms Wise and Western Union Co for users of its U.S. payments app. Google Pay users in the United States can now transfer money to app customers in India and Singapore, with plans to expand to the 80 countries available via Wise, and 200 via Western Union by the end of the year.

•The company has partnered with Western Union and Wise, both of which have integrated their services into Google Play.

INTERNATIONAL

First Sikh elected in Scottish Parliament: Pam Gosal

•Fifty-three-year-old businesswoman Pam Gosal created history by becoming the first Sikh to be elected to the Scottish Parliament. Gosal was elected as a Conservative Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) via the West of Scotland list.

•After joining her office on May 8, Gosal Tweeted: It’s a privilege to be the first female MSP elected to the Scottish Parliament from an Indian background.

NATIONAL

ISRO developed ventilators, oxygen concentrator

•The Indian Space Research Organisation’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), has developed three different types of ventilators and an oxygen concentrator at a time when a shortage of this critical medical equipment resulted in the deaths of many C-19 patients across the country. Based on designs, features and specifications, we have named them, Prana, VaU and Svasta. All three are user-friendly, fully automated and with touch-screen specifications, meeting all safety standards.

•Technology transfer will be done for the commercial production of these three ventilators and the one oxygen concentrator by this month itself. Likely to be priced around ₹1 lakh, the ventilators developed by the ISRO were cost-effective and easy to handle compared to the mini conventional ventilators that are currently priced around ₹5 lakh.

OBITUARY

Malayalam actor Madampu Kunjukuttan Passed Away

•The death of screenwriter-actor Madampu Kunjukuttan on Tuesday (May 11). A National-Award winning screenwriter, Madampu developed a high fever and was admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur. Later, he was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus and breathed his last on Tuesday. He was 81.

Kerala’s Oldest Serving MLA Gouri Amma Passes Away at 102

•The senior-most communist leader of Kerala, KR Gouri Amma, who was the first Revenue Minister in the first communist ministry of the state in 1957, has passed away due to age-related ailments. She was 102. She was the second longest-serving MLA in Kerala Legislative Assembly and also the last surviving member of the first Kerala government.

•After the split of the Communist Party in 1964, K. R. Gouri joined the newly formed Communist Party of India (Marxist). She formed and headed the political party Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy (JSS) in 1994 after her ouster from CPI (M). She was the driving force behind the historic Land Reforms Bill in Kerala. She had won 13 assembly elections, out of the total 17 contested.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

First woman Executive editor of Washington post

•The Washington Post has named longtime journalist Sally Buzbee of the Associated Press as its executive editor, marking the first time a woman has been appointed to lead the 143-year-old news organization.

•Buzbee, AP’s executive editor and senior vice president, will take over leadership of The Post’s nearly 1,000-person newsroom next month, said publisher Fred Ryan, who made the announcement to the newspaper’s staff on Tuesday.

•She succeeds Martin Baron, who retired at the end of February after serving as editor since 2013. Her appointment ended a search that began 10 weeks ago, following Baron’s retirement.

Reserve Bank of India has appointed Jose J Kattoor as Executive Director

•The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Jose J Kattoor as Executive Director (ED). Prior to being promoted as ED, Mr Kattoor was heading Bengaluru Regional Office of the Reserve Bank as Regional Director for Karnataka. He will look after Human Resource Management Department, Corporate Strategy and Budget Department and Rajbhasha Department.

•Mr Kattoor has, over a span of three decades, served in communication, human resource management, financial inclusion, supervision, currency management and other areas in the Reserve Bank.

Padmakumar Nair Appointed As CEO Of National Asset Reconstruction Company

•Padmakumar M Nair has been appointed as the CEO of the proposed National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. Presently Padmakumar is the Chief General Manager of Stressed Assets Resolution Group at SBI.

•National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. is a proposed bad bank for taking over stressed assets of lenders and was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget for 2021-22 to consolidate and take over existing stressed assets of lenders and undertake their resolution.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Nurses Day 2021 : 12 May

•International Nurse Day is observed globally on 12 May every year. This day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. She was also known as Lady with the Lamp. She was the founder of modern nursing and was a British social reformer and statistician.

•The theme of 2021 International Nurses Day is ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A vision for future healthcare’.

•Florence Nightingale was put in charge of nursing British and allied soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War. She is renowned for setting up the Nightingale School of Nursing, at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London (opened 1860) in order to formalize nursing education. She was the first woman awarded the Order of Merit (1907).

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Shakuntala Haraksingh won World Food Prize 2021

•Dr Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, a global nutrition expert of Indian descent has won the prestigious 2021 World Food Prize for her groundbreaking research in developing holistic, nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquaculture and food systems.

•Thilsted’s trailblazing research on small native fish species in Bangladesh led to the development of nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquatic food systems at all levels, from the farm to food processing to final consumers, resulting in improved diets for millions of the most vulnerable people in Asia and Africa, the World Food Prize said on its website.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

‘Life in the Clock Tower Valley’ authored by Shakoor Rather

•“Life in the Clock Tower Valley” is the debut book of Press Trust of India (PTI) journalist Shakoor Rather. The book is published by Speaking Tiger, it talks about Kashmir’s pristine past, its grievous present and always-uncertain future. It also includes historical and political information about Kashmir as well as environmental issues that are seldom talked about.

•Besides talking about various aspect of life in the Valley, the author also describes in detail how different characters pop up in its streets during different seasons: “life-size scarecrows during summers to frighten the unrelenting birds hovering over the paddy fields, and the ceremonial snowmen that delight the neighbourhood children celebrating the much-awaited snowfall”.

INTERNATIONAL

India and Russia to established a ‘2+2 ministerial dialogue’

•India and Russia have agreed to establish ‘2+2 Ministerial Dialogue’ at the Foreign & Defence Minister level between the two countries. Russia is the fourth country and first Non-Quad member country with which India has established the ‘2+2 Ministerial dialogue’ mechanism. India has such a mechanism with the US, Japan and Australia. It is expected to boost the bilateral strategic partnership between India & Russia.

•Relations between India and Russia are rooted in history, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. This is a strategic partnership that has withstood the test of time, and which enjoys the support of the people of both countries.

•Diplomatic relations between India and Russia began even before India achieved independence, on 13 April 1947.

NATIONAL

Wipro become the third most-valued Indian IT firm

•Wipro regained its position as the third largest Indian IT services company by market capitalization of Rs. 2.65 trillion by suppressing HCL Technologies’ Rs. 2.62 trillion market cap. TCS remains at the top of the list with a market cap of Rs. 11.51 trillion followed by Infosys.

•Wipro has also announced its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, in line with the objective of the Paris Agreement to cap temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius. The country’s third-largest largest software services company has set an intermediate target of 55 per cent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 in absolute emission levels compared to its base year of 2016-17 (April-March).

SPORTS

Lewis Hamilton won Portuguese Grand Prix

•Lewis Hamilton overtook title rival Max Verstappen and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas to win the Portuguese Grand Prix. Verstappen finished second, while Bottas, who started from pole, came in a disappointing third place. Sergio Perez took the flag in fourth, with Lando Norris fifth for McLaren.

•The reigning Formula One champion dropped to third in the opening laps but made two impressive moves in nine race-winning laps to claim his second victory of the season.

Sri Lankan cricketer Thisara Perera Announced Retirement

•Sri Lankan all-rounder and former captain, Thisara Perera has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending his international career which spanned nearly 12 years.

•Perera played six Tests, 166 ODIs (2338 runs, 175 wickets), and 84 T20Is (1204 runs, 51 wickets) for Sri Lanka, after making his debut in December 2009. The 32-year-old would continue to play domestic and franchise cricket.

Sindhu, Michelle Li appointed ambassadors for IOC’s ‘Believe in Sport’ campaign

•The Badminton World Federation announced that India shuttler PV Sindhu and Canada’s Michelle Li have been nominated as athlete ambassadors for the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ‘Believe in Sport’ campaign aimed at preventing competition manipulation.

•Sindhu and Li will be working alongside other athlete ambassadors from around the world to raise awareness on the topic of competition manipulation amongst athletes and encourage. The pair have been global ambassadors for BWF’s ‘i am badminton’ campaign since April 2020. The IOC’s ‘Believe in Sport’ campaign was launched in 2018 to raise awareness among athletes, coaches and officials of the threat of competition manipulation.

OBITUARY

Film and TV Actor Bikramjeet Kanwarpal passed away due to C-19

•Actor Bikramjeet Kanwarpal, who has been a popular character in many films, TV shows and web series, has passed away due to C-19 complications. The actor was latest seen in Anil Kapoor’s series 24 and web series Special OPS. He was a retired Army officer. Some of his well-known films include Creature 3D, Horror Story, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Bypass Road and Shortcut Romeo.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Mahesh Balasubramanian appointed as MD of Kotak Mahindra Life

•Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited (KLI) on 1st May announced it has appointed Mahesh Balasubramanian as managing director of the company. He has been appointed following the retirement of G Murlidhar.

•The company is in receipt of approval from the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India for the appointment of Balasubramanian. The appointment is for a period of three years. Suresh Agarwal has been elevated to MD & CEO of Kotak General Insurance.

Justice Prafulla Chandra appointed NHRC as acting chairperson

•The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Justice (retired) Prafulla Chandra Pant had been appointed as the acting chairperson of the Commission with effect from April 25. A former Supreme Court judge, Justice Pant was appointed member of the NHRC on April 22, 2019.  The post of a chairperson has been vacant since Justice H.L. Dattu, a former Chief Justice of India, completed his tenure on December 2, 2020.

•Previously, he was appointed the first Chief Justice of the newly established Meghalaya High Court at Shillong on 20th September 2013 and continued till 12th August 2014.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD): 04 May 2021

•The International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is observed on May 4 every year since 1999. The day is celebrated to recognise and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible.

•The day was instituted, after the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia on 2 December 1998.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Japanese Government awarded Shyamala Ganesh the “Order of Rising Sun”

•The Japanese Government recently awarded the “Order of Rising Sun” to a Bengaluru based Japanese teacher, Shyamala Ganesh. She is a Japanese teacher at the Septuagenarian institution and also at the Ohara School of Ikebana in RT Nagar, Bengaluru. She has tutored more than hundreds of students since its inception 38 years ago. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.

•The award is presented to those who have made distinguished achievements in the promotion of Japanese culture, achievements in international relations, advancements in their field and conservation of the environment.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

GST revenues touch high of Rs.1.41 lakh crore in April

•Gross revenues from the Goods and Services Tax hit a record high of Rs.1.41 lakh crore in April 2021 in India, suggesting economic activity may not yet be as badly affected amidst the ongoing second wave of the C-19 pandemic, as last year.

•April’s GST collections surpassed the previous highest collections of Rs.1.24 lakh crore in March 2021 by 14%, and mark the seventh month in a row since October that GST revenues have crossed Rs.1 lakh crore.

INTERNATIONAL

Nepal Govt closes 22 entry points with India

•The Nepal government has decided to close 22 border points with India amid a sharp surge in C-19 cases in India.

•The decision came after the C-19 Crisis Management Coordination Committee (CCMC) on Friday recommended to the Council of Ministers to shut down 22 out of a total of 35 border points between Nepal and India.

•Now only 13 border points between Nepal and India will remain operational.

•The decision comes in the wake of rising cases of C-19 infections in the southern neighbour.

S Jaishankar set for G7 ministers' meet in UK

•External affairs minister S Jaishankar will on Monday begin a four-day visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting and to hold bilateral meetings with British interlocutors.

•The UK is hosting the first in-person G7 foreign ministers meeting in two years, in London, from May 3 to 5. India, Australia, South Korea, South Africa and the chair and secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have been invited as guests.

•The visit will come ahead of a virtual meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson on Tuesday.

•The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting will focus on geopolitical priorities, such as Russia, China and Iran, the British foreign office said in a tweet. It will also take up global challenges, including climate change, the C-19 pandemic and famine.

Nigeria restricts visitors from India, Brazil

•Nigeria will ban entry to non-Nigerian passengers who travelled to India, Brazil, and Turkey in the last two weeks because of concerns over the rapid spread of coronavirus in those three nations.

•The travel ban announced on Sunday does not apply to passengers who transited through those countries, Nigeria’s presidential steering committee on C-19.

OLA to launch e-scooter internationally

•Ola Electric is looking at taking its electric scooter to international markets, including countries like France, Italy and Germany, this fiscal.

•The company, which is working on setting up a 'Hypercharger Network' for its electric vehicle, is slated to launch its electric scooter in India in July this year.

•Last year, Ola had announced a Rs 2,400-crore investment for setting up its first electric scooter factory in Tamil Nadu. Upon completion, the factory will create nearly 10,000 jobs and will be the world's largest scooter manufacturing facility that will initially have an annual capacity of 2 million units.

NATIONAL

Mahindra Group Chairman, Anand Mahindra launched Project ‘Oxygen on Wheels’

•The Mahindra Group Chairman, Anand Mahindra has rolled out a project titled ‘Oxygen on Wheels’ to ease the transportation of oxygen from producing plants to hospitals and homes, following acute oxygen shortage amid a severe second wave of coronavirus. The ‘Oxygen on Wheels’ initiative will bridge the gap between oxygen production and its transportation in India, especially in Maharashtra.

•Mahindra has lined up around 70 Bolero pickup trucks to connect oxygen producers with hospitals and homes, to deliver oxygen cylinders.

OBITUARY

Famous Doordarshan Anchor Kanupriya Passed Away due to C-19

•A known face on India’s national television network, Kanupriya died of C-19 on Friday. She was on oxygen support for the last two days before breathing her last on April 30. Her sister BK Shivani shared the news on social media.

•Kanupriya had made her TV debut with Doordarshan and currently hosted the daily show Awakening with Brahma Kumaris. Apart from news anchoring, she was also an actress and a filmmaker.

Sitar maestro Pandit Devabrata Chaudhuri Passed Away due to C-19

•Sitar maestro Pandit Debu Chaudhuri has passed away following C-19 related complications. The Legend of Sitar belonged to the Senia or Gharana style of music.

•He had been awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri. He was also a teacher and writer and had penned six books and composed many new ragas.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Press Freedom Day 3 May

•World Press Freedom Day is observed globally on 3 May every year. It is also known as World Press Day. The day also pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives. They risk their lives at times or may even have to face tough situations in order to bring the news from different corners of the world in front of the public.

•This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme “Information as a Public Good”. The theme is of urgent relevance to all countries across the world. It recognizes the changing communications system that is impacting our health, our human rights, democracies and sustainable development.

World Tuna Day: 2nd May Every year 

•World Tuna Day is observed globally on 2nd May every year. This day is established by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness about the importance of tuna fish. It is observed for the first time in 2017. According to the UN, an outsized number of nations worldwide depend upon tuna for both food security and nutrition. At the same time, more than 96 countries have tuna fisheries, and their capacity is constantly growing.

•The World Tuna Day was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by adopting resolution 71/124 in December 2016. Its aim was to spotlight the importance of conservation management and make sure that a system is required in place to prevent tuna stocks from crashing. The primary internationally recognized World Tuna Day was observed on 2 May 2017.

World Laughter Day: First Sunday of May, every year

•World Laughter Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May every year. It is a day to raise awareness about laughter and its many healing benefits.

•In 2021, the day falls on 02 May 2021. World Laughter Day was first celebrated on May 10, 1998, in Mumbai upon the initiation of Dr Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement.

INTERNATIONAL

Italy bans entry of travelers from India

•Italy has joined other countries by imposing restrictions on travel from India to avert the spread of a C-19 variant as the Asian nation struggles with a surge in infections.

•Italy's Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Twitter he had signed an order barring foreign travellers who have been in India in the past 14 days from entering the country.

•India, which is facing a health crisis, is battling a "double mutant" strain of C-19. On Sunday, the country posted the world's highest single-day increase in cases for a fourth day.

NATIONAL

19th India-French Naval Exercise “VARUNA” begins in the Arabian Sea

•The 19th edition of the Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ conducted in the Arabian Sea from 25 to 27 April 2021. During the three day exercise, the units of both the navies will undertake high tempo-naval operations at sea, which will include advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, intense fixed and rotary wing flying operations, tactical manoeuvres, surface and anti-air weapon firings, underway replenishment and other maritime security operations.

•The Indian Navy will participate with its guided-missile stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, guided-missile frigates INS Tarkash and INS Talwar, Fleet Support Ship INS Deepak, with Seaking 42B and Chetak integral helicopters, a Kalvari class submarine and P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

OBITUARY

Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar passed away at 62

•He was born in 1958 and enrolled as an advocate in 1980 and was the ninth seniormost judge of the Supreme Court.

•Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar died at a private hospital in Gurugram on Sunday.

•He was 62. He was admitted to the Medanta Hospital on developing a lung complication and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit. There is no official confirmation whether Justice Shantanagoudar’s demise was related to C-19.

Hindustani classical singer Rajan Mishra passed away at 70

•Rajan Mishra, renowned classical singer and a Padma Bhusan awardee, passed away on April 25, 2021, at St. Stephen hospital in Delhi.

•He was 70 years old. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, “His passing away is an irreparable loss to the art and music world.”

Former SSB chief Arun Chaudhary passed away at 66

•Former Sashastra Seema Bal chief Arun Chaudhary has succumbed to coronavirus on Sunday. He was 66.

•A 1977-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Bihar cadre, Chaudhary served for nearly two decades in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) where he headed the Jammu and Kashmir desk.

•In his early service days, he served in various positions in his cadre state and also had a stint with the Central Industrial Security Force, where he headed its airport security unit.

•In December 2012, he was appointed director general of the SSB and retired from service on April 30, 2014.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Intellectual Property Day: 26 April 2021

•World Intellectual Property Day is observed globally on April 26 every year. It was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate creativity and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the world”.

•Theme 2021: ‘Intellectual property and small businesses: Taking big ideas to market’.

•WIPO proclaimed, 26 April was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.

International Delegate’s Day: 25 April 2021

•International Delegate’s Day observed globally on 25 April every year. This day is observed to raise awareness of the role of the representatives and delegates of the Member States to the United Nations. International Delegate’s Day marks the anniversary of the first day of the San Francisco Conference which is also known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

•On 25 April 1945, delegates from 50 countries came together for the first time in San Francisco. The conference happened after the devastation of the second world war. The delegates aimed to set up an organization that would restore world peace and imposes rules on the post-war world order. On 2 April 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 25 April as International Delegate’s Day.

World Malaria Day (WMD) is observed globally on 25 April each year

•The World Malaria Day (WMD) is observed globally on 25 April each year to recognize the efforts of the people worldwide to control malaria. The Day was established in May 2007 at the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, WHO’s the decision-making body. The theme of World Malaria Day 2021 is ‘Reaching the zero malaria target’.

•World Malaria Day was developed from Africa Malaria Day which was first held in 2008. It is basically an occasion that had been observed since 2001 by African governments. They worked towards the progress goal which aimed toward controlling malaria and reduces its mortality in African countries.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Oscars 2021: Chloe Zhao becomes second woman to win best director for 'Nomadland'

•Chloé Zhao has made history at the Academy Awards. Zhao won the Oscar for best director for "Nomadland," becoming just the second woman and the first woman of color to win the award.

•Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win, for "The Hurt Locker," in 2009.

•This was the only year in Oscar history with two female nominees, Zhao and "Promising Young Woman" director Emerald Fennell. Only seven women have ever been nominated.

INTERNATIONAL

4chan founder Chris Poole leaves Google

•4chan founder Chris Poole no longer works at Google. Google hired Poole in 2016 to work on the company's doomed social media project, Google+.

•Poole lasted just five years at Google, which CNBC notes is usually just long enough for any employee's shares attached to hiring to vest. It sounds like Poole never found a solid landing spot at Google, as he had three different positions during his five years.

NATIONAL

PM Modi Participated in Leaders’ Summit on Climate hosted by Joe Biden

•Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the “Leaders’ Summit on Climate”, hosted by the President of the U.S.A. Joe Biden. The two-day conference has been organised virtually, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Paris Agreement on climate change for signature.

•The theme of the summit: Our Collective Sprint to 2030.

•A total of 40 national leaders have been invited by Biden to attend this two-day virtual climate summit.

•The Summit is being held in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) that will take place in November 2021 in Glasglow.

Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 held

•The opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 was held in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province. The theme of the conference – “A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation”.

•The forum, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has not only played a unique role in pooling consensus and putting forward valuable “Boao proposals,” but also engaged countries in addressing global issues and promoting world development and prosperity.

OBITUARY

Iconic composer duo of “Nadeem-Shravan” Fame Shravan Rathod Passed Away

•Veteran music composer Shravan Rathod of Nadeem-Shravan fame has passed away due to coronavirus complications. The iconic composer duo Nadeem-Shravan (Nadeem Saifi and Shravan Rathod), were among the most sought-after composers of the 90s.

•Together they composed some of the iconic hits for movies such as Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Pardes (1997) and Raja Hindustani (1996), among others. The Nadeem-Shravan duo parted ways in the 2000s, however, they again reunited to compose for David Dhawan-directed Do Knot Disturb in 2009.

Gujarati and Hindi Film Actor Amit Mistry Passed Away

•Popular Gujarati and Hindi film actor Amit Mistry, who was last seen in the Amazon Prime Video series “Bandish Bandits”, has passed away. The actor was a prominent face in the Gujarati theatre circuit.

•He was also known for his memorable performances in Bollywood films like Kya Kehna, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, 99, Shor In The City, Yamla Pagla Deewana and A Gentleman as well as TV-like Tenali Rama, Ssshhh…Koi Hai, Maddam Sir and Shubh Mangal Savadhan, besides OTT shows.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Veterinary Day is observed on the Fourth Saturday of April every year

•The World Veterinary Day is observed on the Fourth Saturday of April every year. In 2021, the day falls on April 24, 2021.

•The theme of the 2021 World Veterinary Day is ‘Veterinarian response to the COVID-19 crisis.’ The day was created by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000 to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals and society.

National Panchayati Raj Day observed every year on 24 April

•Nation celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day on 24 April every year. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organizes the National Panchayati Raj day or the National Local Self Government Day. India celebrates the first National Panchayati Raj Day or the National Local Government Day on April 2010.

•24th April 1993 marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of power to the grassroots, with the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj, through the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 which came into force with effect from that day. Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates the 24th April of every year as the National Panchayati Raj Day(NPRD), as the 73rd Constitutional Amendment came into force on this date. Rajasthan was the first state that carried the Panchayati Raj System in 1959 during the times of late Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Chithra Thomas appointed HR head at Tesla India

•Tesla has appointed its new country HR leader, Chithra Thomas. With 18 years of experience in HR backing her, Thomas has moved from Reliance Retail where she was the VP-HR, handling the HR operations for AJIO, an e-commerce initiative of Reliance Retail.

•At Reliance Retail, she led a team of 90 members and looked after total rewards, talent acquisition and designing of learning and development initiatives. She also handled the core HR operations for 25,000 employees.

•After completing an MBA in HR, Thomas started her career with HPE India and worked with them for six years.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Author Aakash Ranison launched his E-Book “Climate Change Explained – For One And All”

•The climate activist-author, Aakash Ranison has come out with a new e-book titled “Climate Change Explained – for one and all”, on the occasion of Earth Day. Through the e-book, the author explains the impact of climate change and aims to motivate readers to reduce its outcome with the help of simple sustainable solutions.

•The book is a mix of facts, data, and information about climate change, having topics like “Greenhouse effect, global warming, Carbon footprint” and their effects on earth in the near future.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI has Cancelled Licence of Sambandh Finserve

•Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a show-cause notice prior to cancelling the licence of fraud-hit Sambandh Finserve Pvt Ltd. after its networth eroded below the regulatory minimum and financial situation worsened beyond redemption over the recent months. Sambandh is registered as an NBFC-MFI.

•The Managing Director and CEO of Sambandh, Deepak Kindo, who was allegedly the main perpetrator of the fraud, has been arrested by Economic Offence Wing, Chennai. According to the RBI norms, NBFC is required to maintain minimum capital levels consisting of Tier-I and Tier-II capital, of not less than 15 per cent of their aggregate risk-weighted assets.

NATIONAL

Rekha Menon is the First Woman Chairperson of NASSCOM

•IT industry’s apex body Nasscom on Thursday appointed Rekha M. Menon, chairperson and senior managing director at Accenture in India, as its chairperson for 2021-2022. With this, she becomes the first woman to take on the role of chairperson for Nasscom in its 30-year history.

•Menon, earlier the vice chairperson, succeeds U.B. Pravin Rao, chief operating officer, Infosys Ltd, who served as chairman of Nasscom for 2020-2021.

Indian Navy deployed DSRV

•The Indian Navy deployed a deep submergence rescue vessel to support the Indonesian Navy's hunt for a submarine that went missing with 53 people on board.

•They said the Indian DSRV is fitted with latest technology and that it has a side scan sonar for locating the position of submarines in distress at sea.

SPORTS

Tamil Nadu’s, Arjun Kalyan became India’s 68th Chess Grandmaster

•Tamil Nadu’s, Arjun Kalyan became India’s 68th Chess Grandmaster when he crossed the 2500 ELO mark after beating Dragan Kosic in the fifth round of GM Round Robin “Rujna Zore-3” in Serbia.

•Arjun is coached by IM Saravanan and Ukrainian GM Aleksandr Goloshchapov and began playing chess at the age of nine and got his FIDE rating a year later. Viswanathan Anand became the country’s first Grandmaster, in 1988.

OBITUARY

President of the Republic of Chad, Idriss Deby Itno, has passed away

•The President of the Republic of Chad, Idriss Deby Itno, has passed away, following a confrontation with rebels after which he suffered wounds on the battlefield.

•He had ruled the central African nation for more than three decades and was even declared winner of the 2021 presidential election, paving the way for him to stay in power for six more years. Deby first won elections in 1996 and 2001. After this, he continued to win in 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021.

Veteran actor Kishore Nandlaskar passed away

•Veteran actor Kishore Nandlaskar, who was a popular face in both Marathi and Hindi films, has passed away due to C-19 complications. The actor made his debut with Marathi film in 1982 titled ‘Navare Sagle Gadhav’ and went to act in movies like ‘Bhavishyachi Aishi Taishi: The Prediction’, ‘Gaon Thor Pudhari Chor’ and ‘Jara Japun Kara’.

•In Hindi films, Nandlaskar is known for his roles in Khakee (2004), Vaastav: The Reality (1999), Singham (2011), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain (2000), Simmba (2018) and many more. He was last seen in the Mahesh Manjrekar web series ‘1962: The War In The Hills’.

Eminent Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh passed away

•Noted Bengali poet, Shankha Ghosh has passed away following C-19 complications. He was known by his pen name Kuntak.

•He was honoured with numerous awards for his contribution to Bengali literature, some of which includes: Padma Bhushan in 2011, the Jnanpith Award in 2016, and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977 for his book ‘Babarer Prarthana‘, as well as Saraswati Samman and Rabindra Puraskar among other awards.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Revolut names Paroma Chatterjee as India CEO

•UK-based  fintech company Revolut, which was valued at $5.5 billion last year, has named Paroma Chatterjee as its CEO in India as it eyes an expansion in the country this year.

•Chatterjee was previously Lendingkart’s Chief Business Officer. She has also held senior executive roles at Airtel Money, Flipkart and Via.com.

Puma ropes two cricketers as brand ambassadors

•Global sportswear brand Puma has signed long-term endorsement deals with cricketers Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal. Puma India, which recently announced its partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore, has been consistently investing in India’s sports ecosystem.

•The duo will be joining the company’s roster of brand ambassadors that include Indian captain Virat Kohli; wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul; women’s national cricketer, Sushma Verma and veteran cricketer Yuvraj Singh.

IMPORTANT DAYS

UN English Language Day & UN Spanish Language Day : 23 April

•The UN English Language Day and UN Spanish Language Day is observed annually on 23 April. For English, 23 April has been chosen to mark both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. For the Spanish Language, the Day was chosen because the day is also observed as Hispanic Day in Spain, meaning the Spanish speaking world.

•They are one of the six official languages used by the United Nations throughout the Organization. These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

•Each language has been assigned a day of celebration by the UN’s Department of Public Information in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.

World Book and Copyright Day organized on April 23

•The World Book and Copyright Day (also known as ‘International Day of the Book’ and ‘World Book Day’), is an annual event organized on April 23 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright.

•April 23 is chosen because it marks the birth and death of several prominent authors. For instance, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Josep Pla died on April 23 and Manuel Mejia Vallejo and Maurice Druon were born on April 23.

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

Australia and India for Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative

•Australia has announced a grant of Rs 81.2 million (AUD 1.4 million) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). IPOI was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Modi at the East Asia Summit in November 2019 and Australia is co-leading New Delhi in the marine ecology pillar of the initiative.

•The initiative will help to support a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

•The Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership forms the core of this “shared vision” of both countries.

RANKING

WEF Global Energy Transition Index 2021 released: India Ranks 87th

•India is placed at the 87th position among 115 countries in the 2021 Energy Transition Index (ETI). The report is published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), prepared in collaboration with Accenture to track nations on the current performance of their energy systems across various aspects.

•The index benchmarks 115 countries on the current performance of their energy systems across three dimensions — economic development and growth, environmental sustainability, and energy security and access indicators — and their readiness to transition to secure, sustainable, affordable, and inclusive energy systems.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

India elected to three bodies of U.N. Economic and Social Council

•India has been elected by acclamation, to three bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2022.

1.Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)

2.Executive Board of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

3.Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP)  

NATIONAL

CAG GC Murmu has been chosen as an external auditor by OPCW

•Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, GC Murmu has been chosen as the external auditor by a prestigious intergovernmental organisation working for the elimination of chemical weapons.

•According to the External Affairs Ministry, the Hague-based Conference of State Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) selected the CAG as its external auditor for a three-year term starting 2021.

•The appointment was made through an election process at the OPCW conference yesterday where India received overwhelming support ahead of others.

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh launched Jagananna Vidya Deevena Scheme

•The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy released the first tranche of Rs 672 crores under the Jagananna Vidya Deevena Scheme for the year 2021-22. This reimbursed the fees for 10.88 lakh students. So far, a total of Rs 4, 879 crores have been disbursed under the Jagananna Vidya Deevena Scheme.

•The main objective of the Jagananna Vidya Deevena Scheme is to provide scholarships to all the students who are not able to pay their fees because of their financial burden.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is the first party to declare name of electoral bonds donor

•The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is the first party that has declared the name of the entity which made donations to it through electoral bonds. A declaration of a ₹1 crore donation was made in the party’s 2019-2020 contribution report. According to the contribution report of the ruling party in Jharkhand, the donation was made by aluminium and copper manufacturing company Hindalco.

•The association said the most common and popular source of income for national and regional political parties in 2019-20 were donations through electoral bonds. This raises the question as to whether political parties are aware of the identity of the donors who have contributions through electoral bonds, as can be seen in this case.

(WSAI) has been established by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Tehri Dam

•Water Sports and Adventure Institute (WSAI) has been established by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand. The institute was inaugurated on by Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. ITBP’s Mountaineering and Skiing Institute at Auli will independently run this institution, which will impart training in aero, water and land-related sports and adventure activities.

•Training in kayaking, rowing, canoeing, water skiing, para-gliding, para-sailing, speed boating, kite surfing, jet skiing, etc, will also be provided at this institute. Apart from this, water rescue and life-saving courses will be conducted here. It has been targeted to train at least 200 youth in water sports at this institution every year.

Priyanka Mohite : first Indian woman to scale Mount Annapurna

•Priyanka Mohite from Satara in western Maharashtra has scaled Mount Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain peak in the world, became the first Indian woman climber to achieve the feat.

•Mount Annapurna is a massif in the Himalayas located in Nepal that includes one peak over 8,000 metres and is considered to be one of the toughest mountains to climb.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA successfully flew its tiny helicopter Ingenuity on Mars

•NASA successfully flew its tiny helicopter Ingenuity on Mars, the first powered flight on another planet and a feat a top engineer called “our Wright brothers’ moment.” Data and images from the autonomous flight were transmitted (278 million kilometres) back to Earth where they were received by NASA’s array of ground antennas and processed more than three hours later. Ingenuity was on autopilot for its entire flight, out of sight, direct control, or contact with the men and women on Earth who had ordered it aloft—because radio signals take too long to travel between the planets for any human operator to intervene.

OBITUARY

Qawwali singer Farid Sabri passed away on 58.

•Qawwali singer Farid Sabri of the renowned musical duo 'Sabri Brothers' from Rajasthan passed away on Wednesday morning at a hospital in Jaipur.

•He was reportedly admitted to the facility on Tuesday night due to sudden deterioration in his condition, as the singer was allegedly suffering from pneumonia for the past few days. Sabri was 58.

•His brother, singer Amin Sabri confirmed that Farid had not tested positive, but was suffering from lung infection and kidney ailments, besides being diabetic. Doctors have confirmed the same.

•The singer was cremated at the Miskin Shah Cemetery, after his body was taken to the Sabris' ancestral place of Mathura Walon ki Haveli in Jaipur.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Mother Earth Day observed globally on 22 April

•Earth Day (International Mother Earth Day) is observed globally on 22 April every year. The Day will be celebrated all over the world to spread awareness for Earth’s wellbeing and to encourage people to support environmental protection. World Earth Day 2021 will mark the 51st Anniversary of the day since it started being observed in 1970. Earth Day was renamed officially by the UN in 2009 as International Mother Earth Day.

•The theme of 2021 International Mother Earth Day is Restore Our Earth.

International Girls in ICT Day is observed on 22nd April 2021

•International Girls in ICT Day marked annually on the fourth Thursday of April. This year International Girls in ICT Day is observed on 22nd April 2021. International Girls in ICT Day aims to inspire a global movement to increase the representation of girls and women in technology. Today, let’s recommit to the goal of equal access for young women and girls to opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.

•The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is highlighting the need to promote technology career opportunities for girls and women in the world’s fastest-growing sector.

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

GOI-Germany enter into an agreement to prevent plastic waste entering oceans

•The Government of India and Germany Government have signed an agreement for Technical Cooperation in enhancing practices to prevent plastic from entering the marine environment at a virtual ceremony in New Delhi India. The project titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment’ will be implemented for a period of 42 months.

•The outcome of the project is completely in line with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban focusing on sustainable solid waste management and Prime Minister Modi’s vision to phase out single-use plastic by 2022.

•The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

RANKING

World Press Freedom Index 2021, released: India at 142nd 

•India has been placed at 142nd position among 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index (WPFI)2021, released on April 20, 2021. India was at 142nd position in 2020 as well. Norway has retained its top spot for the fifth year running, followed by Finland and Denmark at second and third place respectively. Eritrea is at the bottom of the index at 180th place.

•The index is published every year by the international journalism not-for-profit body, “Reporters without Borders (RSF)”, to evaluate the press freedom situation in 180 countries and territories.