News360 - 17th and 18th May , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

National & International News :

1. Govt to develop Indian Carbon Market; MoP, MoEF&CC Plans to Develop Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 

The Indian government plans to establish the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) to decarbonize the economy by pricing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon credit trading. The Ministry of Power, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, is developing the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme for the ICM. The scheme aims to enhance energy transition efforts and cover various energy sectors in India. A stakeholder consultation event was held in New Delhi to discuss the accreditation of carbon verifiers under the ICM.

- The key purposes of the ICM are :

(i) Creation of a competitive market to incentivize climate actors to adopt low-cost options and attract technology and finance for sustainable projects generating carbon credits.

(ii) Development of methodologies to estimate carbon emissions reductions and removals from registered projects.

(iii) Establishment of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) guidelines for the emissions scheme, including validation, registration, verification, and issuance processes.

(iv) Setting up a comprehensive institutional and governance structure with defined roles for each party involved in the ICM's execution.

(v) The ICM is being developed to support India's climate goals, including its ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the target of reducing the Emissions Intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. It aims to mobilize new mitigation opportunities by creating demand for emission credits from private and public entities.

2. MHA prepares “Model Prisons Act 2023” to replace Existing British-era law

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has developed the "Model Prisons Act 2023" to replace the outdated "Prisons Act of 1894," a British-era law, with a focus on reforming and rehabilitating inmates. This decision was made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

- In addition to reviewing the "Prisons Act of 1894," the MHA also examined the "Prisoners Act of 1900" and the "Transfer of Prisoners Act of 1950." Relevant provisions from these acts were incorporated into the "Model Prisons Act 2023."

- The "Model Prisons Act 2023" introduces measures such as security assessment and segregation of prisons, dedicated wards for women and transgenders, and penalties for complicit prison staff.

Objective : The objective is to provide a comprehensive framework for states to adopt and enhance prison systems throughout India.

3. IIP’s 57th Foundation Day : IIP signed MoUs with various Institutions 

On 14th May 2023, the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Mumbai, Maharashtra,  signed an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate with various prestigious institutions, universities & government bodies on the occasion of IIP’s 57th Foundation Day celebrations at Hotel The Lalit, Andheri, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

- IIP has signed MoUs with various institutions including :

The Bihar Agriculture University, Bhagalpur, Bihar, The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Sonipat, Haryana, Thanjavur(Tamil Nadu-TN), The Tamilnadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Chennai(TN) and The North East Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation (NHDC), Guwahati, Assam.

4. iDEX signs 250th contract, 1st under Mission DefSpace; & 100th SPRINT (Navy) Contract in New Delhi

On May 15, 2023, the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), achieved significant milestones by signing its 250th contract with InspeCity Space Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. in Thane, Maharashtra, and its 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract with Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd in Pune, Maharashtra, in New Delhi.

(i) Contract with InspeCity :

- This contract marks the first under the Mission DefSpace and was signed by Additional Secretary-Defence Production (AS-DP) and CEO of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) T. Natarajan and CEO of InspeCity, Arindrajit Chowdhary.

- InspeCity is a winner of the 'Micropropulsion system for cubesats' challenge led by the Defence Space Agency.

(ii) Contract with Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd :

- This contract represents the 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract and was exchanged between CEO-DIO T. Natarajan and CEO of Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd, Sushil Eknath Ghule.

- Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd is the winner of the challenge focused on developing a lightweight ASIC-based communication system using a software-defined antenna for satellite communication in various orbits.

(iii) Mission DefSpace :

- Launched in October 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it addresses 75 Defence Space Challenges for the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Navy (IN), and Indian Army (IA) through private sector participation.

- The challenges cover areas such as launch systems, satellite systems, communication and payload systems, ground systems, and software systems, providing a comprehensive overview of space-related aspects.

(iv) SPRINT initiative :

- Unveiled by PM Narendra Modi during the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar 'Swavlamban' in July 2022.

Its goal is to introduce at least 75 technologies/products into the Indian Navy (IN) by August 2023 as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations.

(v) iDEX :

- Launched in 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it aims to foster co-creation and co-development in the defense sector, promoting startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs in indigenous defense production.

- Implemented by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), established under the Department of Defence Production, MoD.

5. MoC Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launches Sanchar Saathi Portal to Prevent Frauds by Misusing Mobile Phones

On May 16, 2023, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw of the Ministry of Communications (MoC) launched the Sanchar Saathi portal 'https://sancharsaathi.gov.in' to prevent mobile phone fraud.

- Developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), MoC, the portal is citizen-centric and aims to empower mobile subscribers, enhance their security, and raise awareness about government initiatives.

- The Sanchar Saathi portal includes the following modules to protect users from fraud : 

(i) CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register): Allows blocking of stolen or lost mobile phones.

(ii) Know your mobile connections: Enables users to check the mobile connections registered under their name.

(iii) ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification): Identifies SIM cards issued with fraudulent or forged documents.

(iv) Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP): Helps detect unauthorized or fraudulent mobile connections and report them.

(v) Know Your Mobile: Allows users to verify the authenticity of their mobile device's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number.

Important points :

(i) India has become the world's second-largest telecom ecosystem with 1.17 billion subscribers.

(ii) The first phase of ASTR analyzed 870 million mobile connections using the Param-Sidhhi Supercomputer. It identified numerous cases where a single photo was linked to hundreds of connections. As a result, 4.087 million suspicious connections were detected. Among them, 3.661 million have been disconnected after verification, and the remaining cases are being processed.

(iii) Around 40,123 Point of Sales (PoS) involved in selling these connections were blacklisted, and over 150 First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed across the country.

6. India & Bangladesh launched a " 50 start-ups exchange programme "

India and Bangladesh have jointly launched a '50 start-ups exchange program' aimed at fostering partnerships, expanding business relations, sharing knowledge and experience, and promoting youth and entrepreneurial cooperation. The program entails the exchange of visits between 50 start-ups from each country.

- In the first phase, a group of 10 start-up companies from Bangladesh, operating in sectors such as e-commerce, health, transport and logistics, energy, education, and skill development, visited India from May 8 to 12, 2023. The framework of the program was established during bilateral summits between the Prime Ministers of India, Narendra Modi, and Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.

Key Events :

- Introduction to India's 'Start-up India' initiative for the Bangladeshi start-ups.

- Participation in interactive sessions covering topics like establishing start-ups, creating business models, the role of incubators, project marketing, cyber security, artificial intelligence, data protection, start-up evaluation, and funding strategies.

- An interactive session organized by the High Commission of India in Bangladesh on May 14, 2023, with the visiting group of 10 start-ups.

- The program holds potential for enhancing cooperation in new and emerging areas, cutting-edge technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

7. MCA launched C-PACE to Simplify Removal of company names from Register

On May 13, 2023, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) established the Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE) to streamline the process of removing companies from the MCA Register.

- The C-PACE office was inaugurated on May 1, 2023, by RK Dalmia, the Director of Inspection & Investigation at MCA. Harihara Sahoo, from the Indian Corporate Law Services (ICLS), serves as the first Registrar of C-PACE. The office operates under the supervision of the Director General of Corporate Affairs (DGCoA) in New Delhi, Delhi.

Objective :

(i) C-PACE has been established to promote ease of doing business and simplify the process of company exit.

(ii) It aims to provide a smooth, timely, and well-defined experience for companies seeking to strike off their names from the MCA Register.

Benefits :

(i) Centralized company striking-off process contributes to maintaining a clean registry.

(ii) It offers a hassle-free filing and well-regulated process for stakeholders.

(iii) Ensures prompt and efficient disposal of applications.

(iv) Enhances the availability of meaningful data for stakeholders.

8. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts celebrates Rabindra Jayanti; ‘Vigyan Vaibhav’ portal Launched

On May 12, 2023, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), in collaboration with Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University and Sanrachna Foundation, organized Rabindra Jayanti Celebrations at the Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA in New Delhi, Delhi.

- During the event, Meenakshi Lekhi, the Minister of State (MoS) for Culture of India, launched the "Vigyan Vaibhav" portal developed by IGNCA. Dignitaries present at the celebration included Riva Ganguly Das, former Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Goutam De, former Regional Director of ICCR, Rudranil Ghosh, an eminent actor from the Bengali film industry, Prof. O. P. Kalra from SGT University, Dr. Sachichidand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA, and Prof. Pratapanand Jha, Dean Academics and HoD CIL, IGNCA.

(i) Vigyan Vaibhav Portal :

The Vigyan Vaibhav portal is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of 75 eminent Indian scientists who have made groundbreaking advancements in science and technology.

- The portal aims to highlight the equal participation and contributions of both women and men in the field of science.

- This launch follows the recent launch of the "Kala Vaibhav" portal at IGNCA and is part of a collective effort.

(ii) Rabindra Jayanti :

Rabindra Jayanti is an annual celebration held on the 25th day of the Bengali month of Boishakh to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, a renowned Bengali polymath.

- Rabindranath Tagore became the first non-European to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his collection of poetry called "Gitanjali," originally written in Bengali and later translated into English.

- Rabindranath Tagore's ideals at the intersection of culture and science continue to be carried forward by Visva Bharati University.

9. ACC approved the appointment of Ravneet Kaur as Chairperson of CCI

On May 15 2023, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Ravneet Kaur, a 1988 Punjab cadre IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer, as the Chairperson of Competition Commission of India (CCI). She has been appointed for a period of 5 years with effect from the date of assuming the charge or till the date of attaining the age of 65 or until further order.

- Ravneet Kaur becomes the first woman and non-secretary bureaucrat to be appointed as a CCI Chairperson.

-  She will replace CCI Member Sangeeta Verma who has been serving as the interim (acting) chairperson of CCI since October 2022 after Ashok Kumar Gupta demitted office.

10. ACC appoints Anil Kumar Jain as New PNGRB Chairman

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Anil Kumar Jain, a former Coal Secretary, as the new Chairman of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). He has been appointed for a period of 5 years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till attaining the age of 65 years, or until further orders.

- The Chairman position of PNGRB has been lying vacant since Dinesh Kumar Sarraf retired on 4th December 2020.

11. Amy Pope of USA Elected as the 1st Woman Director General of UN’s IOM

On May 15, 2023, Amy E. Pope, a 49-year-old from the United States of America (USA), was elected as the first woman Director General (DG) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations' (UN) Migration Agency. She will assume the position as the 11th DG of IOM for a 5-year term starting from October 1, 2023.

- Amy E. Pope secured victory over the incumbent DG Antonio Vitorino of Portugal, the European Union (EU) candidate, who has been serving as the DG of IOM since 2018.

- Before joining IOM, Amy Pope held several significant positions, including Senior Advisor on Migration to President Biden in 2021, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor from 2015 to 2017, and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director on Transborder Security from 2013 to 2015.

12. Netherlands becomes India’s 3rd Largest Export Destination in FY23 after US, UAE

According to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Netherlands has become the third largest export destination for India in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23), following the United States (US) and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

- India's trade surplus with the Netherlands has increased from USD 8 billion in FY22 to USD 13 billion in FY23. This surplus was primarily driven by higher exports of petroleum products, electronic items, chemicals, and aluminium goods.

- Key petroleum products exported from India to the Netherlands include aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and diesel, as reported by the economic think tank GTRI (Global Trade Research Initiative). The largest electronic items exported were telecom equipment and smartphones, valued at over USD 1 billion.

- India's exports to the Netherlands witnessed a significant growth of approximately 48%, reaching USD 18.52 billion in FY23 compared to USD 12.5 billion in FY22.

- The Netherlands has surpassed other major destinations such as the UK, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Germany in terms of India's exports.

- In 2022, India's exports to the Netherlands amounted to USD 18.1 billion, marking a notable increase from USD 5.5 billion in 2017.

- In FY22 and FY21, outbound shipments to the Netherlands from India stood at USD 12.55 billion and USD 6.5 billion, respectively.

13. Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood Appointed as CBI Director for 2 years

On May 14, 2023, Praveen Sood, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Karnataka, was appointed as the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as per the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). His appointment was finalized by a three-member high-powered selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

- The Competent Authority approved the appointment of Praveen Sood as the Director of CBI for a period of two years, which can be extended up to five years.

- The current CBI Director, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, a 1985-batch IPS officer from the Maharashtra cadre, is set to complete his two-year tenure on May 25, 2023. He assumed the position of CBI Director on May 26, 2021.

- Praveen Sood's appointment places him in charge of the premier investigating agency during the 2024 general elections.

14. Telangana’s Vuppala Prraneeth becomes India’s 82nd Grandmaster

On May 13 2023, 16-year-old Vuppala Prraneeth from Telangana, has become India’s 82nd GrandMaster (GM) by defeating GM Hans Niemann from United States of America (USA) in the penultimate round of the Baku Open 2023, which took place from May 4-12, in Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan.

- With this win Vuppala Prraneeth crossed the required 2500 FIDE’s (International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation) Elo live ratings, to achieve the GM title.

- He is the sixth Grandmaster from the Telangana State.

15. Ruskin Bond Authored a New Book Titled “The Golden Years”

Renowned Indian author Ruskin Bond has penned a new book called "The Golden Years: The Many Joys of Living a Good Long Life," which is set to be published by HarperCollins India. The book, focusing on the author's life in his 60s, 70s, and 80s, is scheduled for release on May 19, 2023, coinciding with his 89th birthday.

- Ruskin Bond was born on May 19, 1934, in Kasauli, Punjab States Agency, British India. At the young age of 17, he wrote his first book titled "The Room on the Roof," a semi-autobiographical tale featuring the protagonist Rusty.

- Recognizing his literary contributions, Ruskin Bond received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for his work "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra." In further recognition of his accomplishments, he was honored with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014 for his contributions to literature and education.

16. MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Flags off 406 Veterinary Ambulances

On 12th May 2023, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh (MP) inaugurated a Gau-Raksha Sankalp Sammelan (Cow-Protection Resolution Conference) at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal, MP, and flagged off 406 veterinary ambulances under the “Pashu Chikitsa Ambulance” (animal ambulance) scheme. The ambulance, mainly meant for the treatment of cows, will operate in urban areas and all development blocks of MP.

Banking and Finance News :

1. BSE relaunches Sensex & Bankex Derivative Contracts

On May 15, 2023, BSE, the oldest stock exchange in Asia formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, reintroduced derivative contracts for Sensex and Bankex in an effort to enhance derivative trading at India's premier bourse.

- The relaunch of derivative contracts includes a reduction in the lot size for futures and options, as well as a new Friday expiry cycle, replacing the previous Thursday cycle.

- The lot size for Sensex futures and options has been reduced from 15 to 10, while for Bankex, it has been reduced from 20 to 15.

- The relaunch received positive feedback from market participants, with nearly 100 members actively engaging in trading. The total turnover amounted to Rs 53.12 crores, and the open interest stood at 252 lots.

2. NSE India Launched Rupee-Denominated NYMEX WTI Crude Oil & Natural Gas Futures Contracts

On May 15, 2023, the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE India) launched the rupee-denominated New York Mercantile Exchange’s (NYMEX) West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude Oil and Natural Gas futures contracts in its commodity derivatives segment.

Key points :

(i) The NYMEX WTI contracts will be suitable for FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors) to get the benefit of margin collateral from their cash holdings in NSE to trade in these commodity derivative contracts.

(ii) The NYMEX WTI will provide effective trading and hedging opportunities to the market participants, with the availability of key energy products on a single trading platform.

(iii) The NYMEX WTI Crude Oil and Natural Gas contracts are among the world’s most traded commodity derivatives contracts generating interest from across the globe.

3. RBI asks banks to Ensure Complete Transition away from LIBOR from July 1, 2023

On May 12, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued an advisory to banks and other RBI-regulated entities to ensure a complete transition from the international benchmark reference rate US$ London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Mumbai Interbank Forward Outright Rate (MIFOR) from July 1, 2023.

- After June 30, 2023, Financial Benchmarks India Pvt. Ltd. (FBIL) will cease to publish Mumbai Interbank Forward Outright Rate (MIFOR).

Important Points :

(i) Banks / Financial Institutions (FIs) have been advised to ensure that no new transactions undertaken by them or their customers rely on or are priced using the US$ LIBOR (including transactions that reference MIFOR).

(ii) In this regard, banks/FIs will develop systems and processes to manage the complete transition away from LIBOR. RBI will continue to monitor for ensuring a smooth transition from LIBOR.

4. IRDAI forms 5-Member Committee under Chairmanship of Pratima Murthy to Advice on Mental Health Cover

On May 15, 2023, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) established a 5-member expert committee led by Pratima Murthy, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). The committee consists of medical experts and insurers, and its purpose is to provide guidance and insights to IRDAI regarding mental health and insurance.

Objective : The committee's main objective is to thoroughly examine various aspects, including the types of conditions and treatments, from an insurance standpoint. Its focus is to address insurance products that cover mental illnesses and other related aspects.

The committee, with a tenure of 2 years, has been tasked with advising IRDAI on the coverage currently offered or to be offered under insurance products for mental illnesses.

Additionally, the committee will provide guidance on terminology and concepts from a medical perspective, as well as aspects pertaining to mental illnesses from an insurance standpoint.

5. IRDAI Directs Insurers To Provide Full Insurance Coverage For Surrogacy

On May 12, 2023, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued a directive to all insurers, mandating comprehensive insurance coverage for surrogate mothers and oocyte donors in accordance with the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act, 2021.

The IRDAI has instructed insurers to ensure immediate compliance with the two Acts and make suitable products available.

Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 :

According to Section 4 (iii)(a)(III) of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, insurance coverage must be provided to the surrogate mother for a duration of 36 months (3 years) to cover postpartum delivery complications. This coverage should be obtained from an insurance company or agent recognized by the IRDAI.

As per Rule 5 of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022, the intending woman or couple must purchase general health insurance coverage for the surrogate mother for 36 months. The insurance coverage should be sufficient to cover all expenses related to pregnancy complications and post-partum delivery complications.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act, 2021 :

Under Section 22(1)(b) of the ART Act, 2021, insurance coverage for a duration of 12 months is mandated for the oocyte donor by the commissioning couple or woman. This coverage should be obtained from an insurance company or agent recognized by the IRDAI and should cover all expenses related to complications arising from oocyte retrieval.

6. WB Granted Rs 51 Crore to set up Integrated Road Safety Enforcement System in Shimla & Nurpur

World Bank (WB) has approved a grant of Rs 51 crore for the project to set up an integrated road safety enforcement system in the Shimla and Nurpur police districts of Himachal Pradesh (HP) and develop the Palampur-Sheela Chowk in Kangra (HP) as a “safe corridor”.

- Under the first phase of the project, Shimla and Nurpur have been selected and a sum of Rs 42 crore (out of Rs 51 Crore granted by WB)  will be spent on both police districts to strengthen their emergency response systems.

The Palampur-Sheela Chowk stretch of road in Kangra has been chosen to be developed at a cost of Rs 9 crore as a safe corridor under the Safe Corridor Demonstration Programme (SCDP) by making safety interventions and design improvements.

Other News :

1. National Dengue Day - 16th May , 2023

National Dengue Day is annually observed across India on 16th May to create awareness about dengue among general public and to promote the preventive measure against dengue.

The observance of the National Dengue Day is led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW).

- The government of India observes the 16th May as National Dengue Day and the month of July as the Anti Dengue Month to create awareness about Dengue- a mosquito-borne viral infection, which is predominantly found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide.

- Since 2011, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) annually celebrates the ASEAN Dengue Day on 15th June to create awareness of dengue.

In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) joined ASEAN to mark 15th June as AESAN Dengue Day.

- Dengue in India :

According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), around 2.3 lakh dengue cases and around 303 deaths due to dengue were recorded in 2022.

The National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) administers an umbrella programme NVBDCP for the prevention and control of 6 vector-borne diseases namely Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis.

About National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) :

Director : Dr. Tanu Jain

Headquarters : Delhi

2. International Day of Living Together in Peace 2023 - 16th May

United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Living Together in Peace is annually observed across the globe on May 16 to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity.

- The day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.

- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/130 on 8th December 2017 and proclaimed May 16 of every year as the International Day of Living Together in Peace.

- The 1st ever International Day of Living Together in Peace was observed on 16th May 2018.

About the United Nations (UN) :

Secretary General : António Guterres

Headquarters : New York, USA

Establishment : 1945

3. International Day of Light 2023 - 16th May

The International Day of Light (IDL) is a global initiative, annually observed on 16th May to celebrate the contribution of light in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development. The day also celebrates the role of lights in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy.

- 16th May 2023 marks the 6th edition of International Day of Light.

- The International Day of Light is observed by the United Nations (UN)s and administered from the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The observance of the International Day of Light is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development.

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) :

Established in : 1945 (entered into force in 1946)

Director-General : Audrey Azoulay

Headquarters : Paris, France

4. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023 - 17th May

The United Nations(UN)’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day(WTISD) is annually observed across the globe on 17th May  to create awareness about the uses of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) in societies and economies. The day also aims to raise awareness about the ways to bridge the Digital divide.

- WTISD 2023 is observed on 17th May 2023 under the theme - “Empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies”.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU) :

ITU is the UN’s specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.

Secretary General : Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Founded : 1865

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

5. World Hypertension Day 2023 - 17th May

World Hypertension Day is annually observed across the globe on May 17 to raise awareness about hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, and promote its prevention, detection and control.

World Hypertension Day 2023 was observed on 17th May 2023 under the theme “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”.

Aim : The day aims to communicate to the public the importance of hypertension and its serious medical complications.

Important points :

(i) Worldwide, 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 are believed to have hypertension, with two-thirds of them living in low- and middle-income countries.

(ii) Adults with hypertension are reportedly 46% less likely to be aware of their condition.

(iii) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 42% of persons with hypertension receive a diagnosis and treatment. 1 in 5 (21%) persons with hypertension have it under control. Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.

(iv) The reduction of hypertension prevalence by 33% between 2010 and 2030 is one of the global goals for non-communicable diseases.

6. International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2023 - 17th May

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) is annually observed across the globe on May 17 to raise awareness about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) issues.

IDAHOTB  2023 was observed on 17th May 2023 under the theme “Together Always: United in Diversity”.

Key points :

(i) The United Nations (UN)’s LGBTI Core Group hosted an event at UN headquarters to commemorate the 2023 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT), cosponsored by UN Women.

This is the 5th year that the Core Group holds an IDAHOTB event.

(ii) This event is being held to raise awareness of the discrimination, violence, and marginalisation that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people face across the globe, emphasising the importance of creating an inclusive society that respects and protects the human rights of all people, including trans people.

News360 - Weekly CA Shorts (May Second Week) | Weekly Current Affairs - May 2023

  Weekly Current Affairs - 8th May to 14th May , 2023

1. Under India’s G20 presidency, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the BIS Innovation Hub (BISIH) of the Bank for International Settlements jointly launched G20 TechSprint 2023.

- It is the 4th edition of the global technology hackathon for innovators to promote innovative solutions aimed at Transforming cross border payments.

2. Capital Small Finance Bank and Max Life Insurance Company Limited entered into a partnership to offer life insurance offerings to Capital SFB's customers.

3. In the recently held high level Internal Governmental Commission meeting on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC - TEC), India and Russia discussed and agreed to explore the possibility of accepting RuPay (India) and Mir cards (Russia) in each other's country for hassle free payments'

- Both nations also agreed to explore the possibility of interaction with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Faster Payments System (FPS) of the Bank of Russia.

4. HDFC Bank launched its customised retail banking programme " Vishesh " for customers in semi urban and rural (SURU) geographies. With this program, the bank will also meet some of its Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets.

5. A MoU was signed between the Embassy of India, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Sushila Thakur Memorial Health Foundation, for distribution of LPG Stoves and cylinders in Mahottari District, Nepal with the Indian grant assistance of Nepalese Rupees 50 million under India Nepal Development Cooperation.

- Since 2003, India has undertaken more than 535 High Impact Community Development Projects in Nepal, of which 478 have been completed.

6. The nationwide AHDF KCC Campaign for 2023 24 has been launched by Parshottam Rupala Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (FAHD) to provide Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to all eligible farmers engaged in Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fishery (AHDF) Farmers.

- About AHDF KCC Campaign :

Oragnised by : Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in association with the Department of Fisheries (DOF) and the Department of Financial Services

Time period : 1st May 2023 to 31st March 2024

Objective : To expand the benefit of KCC to all eligible animal husbandry, dairy and fishery farmers, in order to improve the income of the farmers

7. Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways flagged off MV-ITT LION (V-273) from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, a first shipment to operationalize the Sittwe Port in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

- It should be noted that this port in Myanmar has been built under grant assistance from the Government of India as part of Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP).

8. The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai inaugurated the Dawki land port in West Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya to promote trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.

9. United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) announced three imprisoned Iranian women journalists Niloofar Hamedi Elaheh Mohammadi and Narges Mohammadi as the laureates of the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

[The Award Ceremony took place in New York, United States of America (USA) in the presence of Audrey Azoulay Director General of UNESCO].

10. The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Central Coalfields CMD Polavarapu Mallikharjuna Prasad as the next Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India Limited (CIL).

11. Belgium's Luca Brecel became the first player from continental Europe to win the World Snooker Championship. He beatS four time champion Mark Selby. [First held in 1927, it is now one of the three tournaments that make up snooker's Triple Crown Series ].

12. Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Chair of Startup 20 G 20 along with Durga Jasraj, founder of Pandit Jasraj Cultural Foundation, launched the "UPAJ : A Festival of Innovations in Arts" during the event held in the NITI Aayog, New Delhi.

13. BharatPe Group, a fintech startup, announced the rebranding of its loyalty program, PAYBACK India, the multi-brand loyalty program to Zillion.

14. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IF-CAP) program to accelerate climate change financing in the region.

- IF-CAP's initial partners are Denmark, Japan, the Republic ofKorea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

- IF-CAP financing will contribute to ADB s ambition for $100 billion from its resources for combating climate change for 2019-2030.

15. Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) signed a MoU with Emjay Control Systems Pvt Ltd, to jointly manufacture and develop business for electro-mechanical bollards for use in various defence, homeland, security, paramilitary, and export projects. [ The bollards are built to withstand the impact of IED (Improvised Explosive Device) laden vehicles weighing from 24,000 to 1,50,000 kg and coming in at alarming speeds of 80 to 100 km/h ]

16. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) are joining hands to set up Asia's largest biogas plant in Mumbai, Maharashtra. [ The proposed plant will recycle damp, organic, and degradable waste, which accounts for 3,500 tonnes of the 6,000 tonnes of solid waste generated daily in Mumbai, Maharashtra ]

17. The Union Government has formed an 11-member high level committee under the chairmanship of Sanjay Garg, Additional Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education. The aim is to restructure the 94-year old ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) , which was established in 1929 to meet the objective of Amrit Kaal . [ About Amrit Kaal -  On 15 August 2022 on the event of the 75 th year of Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the term Amrit Kaal for the first time ]

18. The Centre has decided to extend the Smart Cities Mission deadline by one year, from June 2023 to June 2024.

- The flagship mission was launched on June 25,2015. It involves the development of 100 cities into smart cities. The project aims to improve the quality of life for people living in India and drive economic growth.

- The Union Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for implementing the mission.

- The ministry said that the government has released around Rs. 38,000 crore to 100 cities.

19. WHO (World Health Organisation) launched a new initiative called PRET (Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats) to ensure the world is prepared for future outbreaks like the Covid 19 pandemic.

- The objective to help world countries by providing guidance on integrated planning for responding to respiratory pathogens and their recovery by supporting to strengthen the systems and capacities.

- The PRET initiative was announced at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held in Geneva,Switzerland.

20. According to Forbes World's 10 Highest Paid Athletes 2023 Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) has become the highest paid athlete in the world in 2023 after he moved to Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr in January 2023.

21.  Winners of the NASA HERC 2023 from India :

Project Review Award :

(i) College/University Division - Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan

Social Media Award :

(i) High School Division - Young Tinker Educational Foundation, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

(ii) College/University Division - KIET Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

22. Maria Stepanova, a Jewish author from Russia now living in exile in Germany, has been awarded the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding 2023 for her volume of poetry entitled "Mädchen ohne Kleider" (Girls Without Clothes).

[ The Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding has been awarded annually since 1994 and is one of the most important literary prizes in Germany. The Award comes with prize money of 20,000 euros. ]

23. Fatimah Asghar, a South Asian American poet and screenwriter, won the inaugural Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for her debut novel " When We Were Sisters " published by One World/Random House.

- In addition to the cash prize of USD 150,000 Fatimah Asghar will receive a residency at the award winning Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

24. India's javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in Javelin Throw men's event of the Doha Diamond League 2023 (held at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar) , officially known as Wanda Diamond League ,  by registering a distance of 88.67 metres.

- Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic finished second with a best of 88.63 m and reigning world javelin champion Anderson Peters of Grenada finished 3 rd with a best of 85.88 m.

[ This throw was Neeraj Chopra's 4th career best effort, who has a personal best of 89.94 m. This was his second win in a Diamond League Meeting He became the first Indian to win a Diamond League Meeting in 2022 in Lausanne, Switzerland ]

25. Visa launched a cardholder verification value (CVV) free feature for tokenised cards in India, that allows users to carry out online transactions without the need to enter the CVV to make the online transaction process easier.

26. Manappuram Finance ventures into digital money lending & introduces " Ma-Money " app to offer hassle free loans at the click of a mouse.

27. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Sahay app, developed by Ahmedabad based start-up digital credit platform provider Online PSB Loans will enable small store owners, kirana /grocers and other MSMEs to secure instant bank loan between 10,000 to 2 lakh. [ OPL's infrastructure has also been deployed for the rollout of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Innovation Hub's pilot on GST Sahay ]

28. NITI Aayog (National Institute for Transforming India) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released the : Best Practices in Social Sector : A Compendium, 2023 " . It is a compilation of 75 initiatives of the Centre and the states/ Union Territories in the social sector.

-  Out of the 75 initiatives, 14 have been launched by Union government, two are joint initiatives by the Centre and the state governments, while the rest are from 26 states and UTs.

29. The Coal Ministry said that it will complete 67 first mile connectivity projects with a capacity of handling 885 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2027 . The Ministry of Coal takes up 67 FMC projects (59 - coal India, 5 - Singareni Collieries Company & 3 - NLC India) with a capacity to load 885 mtpa.

30. Air Vistara became the 1st Indian carrier to operate a commercial domestic flight on a widebody aircraft using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) [ The feat was achieved by the airline s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai using a blend of 17% SAF and 83% conventional jet fuel, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 4,500 kilograms ].

31. Ram Nath Kovind, a former President of India, honoured Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh with the 13 th edition of the Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award, for creating a fear free UP.

- The award was received by Lalji Prasad, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in UP, on behalf of CM Yogi Adityanath.

About the Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award :

Initiated in : 1992

First Awarded : 1993

Given by : Dr. Ambedkar Foundation

Prize money : Rs. 10 Lakhs

First Winner : National Institute of Social Work and Social Science,Bhubaneswar, Odisha

32. King Charles III was crowned the King of the United Kingdom at the coronation ceremony held at Westminster Abbey (formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster) in London. The Queen Consort (the wife of a reigning king) Camilla, was crowned the Queen beside King Charles III during the coronation.

[She became the 29 th Queen Consort to be crowned at Westminster Abbey. This marks the 40 th coronation to take place at Westminster Abbey since 1066 ]

33. Former England cricketer and veteran commentator Mark Nicholas has been elected as the next president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

34. Manufacturer of mattresses, Wakefit Innovations Private Limited, has signed actor Ayushmann Khurrana as Wakefit.co's brand ambassador.

35. The Indian Navy (IN) decommissioned Indian Naval Ship (INS) Magar the oldest Landing Ship Tank after 36 years of service at the Naval base in Kochi, Kerala It was commanded by CDR Hemant Salunkhe. INS Magar was launched at Garden Reach Shipyard and Engineers Limited, Kolkata by late Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani.

36. The Indian Air Force (IAF)'s 1st C-295 medium transport aircraft has completed its maiden flight in Spain, marking a significant milestone towards its delivery by the second half of 2023. The aircraft took off from Seville, Spain and landed after 3 hours of flight.

37. Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence, who is on a one-day visit to Union Territory of Chandigarh, has inaugurated India's first of its kind Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre in Chandigarh's Sector 18 [ The heritage centre has the first IAF made patent aircraft Air Force " Kanpur-1 Vintage Prototype Aircraft" , a single engine indigenous flying machine designed and built by the late Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh in 1958 at Base Repair Depot Kanpur ].

38. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket launched two TROPICS hurricane research satellites of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) from its New Zealand spaceport, and were deployed into Low Earth orbit (LEO) about 340 miles (550 kilometers) above Earth.

- This pair of satellites is named " Rocket Like a Hurricane " .

39. On 7th May 2023, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand, launched the Hindi version of “Cyber Encounter: Cops’ Adventures With Online Criminals” (साइबर एनकाउंटसस) at St Joseph’s Academy, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. This version has been published by Prabhat Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.

- The book was originally written in English by Ashok Kumar, the Director General of Police(DGP) of Uttarakhand, and co-authored by OP Manocha, a former scientist of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and published by Ebury Press.

40. Dr Sandeep Marwah the Chancellor of AAFT University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and President of the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry, presented the 1st copy of the book " 8 Years of Modi Sarkar : A Compilation of Achievements " .

41. The Ministry of Finance MoF has allowed 22 financial companies, including Amazon Pay (India) and Hero FinCorp to undertake Aadhaar based authentication of clients. These 22 financial companies include Godrej Finance, Amazon Pay (India) Pvt Ltd, Aditya Birla Housing Finance, Tata Motors Finance Solution, IIFL Finance and Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Ltd.

- Section 11A of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 provides for verification of identity by reporting entities

[ E-KYC (know your customer) carried out through One Time Password (otp) based Aadhaar authentication allows entities to offer a limited set of services to their users. Such a KYC has to be renewed every year and the aggregate amount of term loans sanctioned shall not exceed Rs. 60,000 in a year ]

42. HDFC has decided to sell its student loan subsidiary ahead of its merger with HDFC Bank and has appointed an investment banker for the stake sale. Credila is India's largest education sector focused Non banking Finance Company (NBFC) specialising in providing education loans to students pursuing higher education in India and overseas.

43. Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited announced that it has successfully re-domiciled Alchemy India Long Term Fund from Mauritius to GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

44. Reliance Industries Ltd - controlled Viacom 18 has signed a three year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery will allow the broadcaster to stream popular HBO Originals, HBO as well as Warner Bros content on JioCinema starting next month.

- The deal is pegged at 900 1 000 crore and will help JioCinema attract premium English content consuming audiences.

45. Four wheeler vehicles powered by diesel may get banned by 2027. By 2030 no city buses should be added which are not electric, diesel buses for city transport should not be added from 2024 onwards. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has set up an Energy Transition Advisory Committee, headed by former oil secretary Tarun Kapoor.

[ The country aims at producing 40% of its electricity from renewables to achieve its 2070 net zero goal ]

46. The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently decided to introduce Millets, Shree Anna in the meals of personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRP). The decision to introduce 30 per cent Millets in the meals.

47. The 3rd phase of Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) was launched by the Minister of State Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW to commemorate the World Thalassemia Day on May 8, 2023. TBSY is an imitation of MoHFW and which is being supported by Coal India Limited (CIL) as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

About TBSY : The MoHFW has been implementing TBSY since 2017 under the National Health Mission (NHM) to treat Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that causes the body to have less hemoglobin than normal. The HSCT program is an initiative to provide a one-time cure opportunity to underprivileged Thalassemia patients who have a matched sibling donor but lack the financial resources to cover the procedure's cost. The second phase of TBSY was completed in March 2023.

48. A new Border-Haat between India and Bangladesh was inaugurated in Bholaganj under the Companiganj upazila of Sylhet.

- This is the fourth Border Haat in Sylhet division out of which three are currently functional. Three more Border Haats are planned to be opened in the Sylhet division.

- The Border Haat will function on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.

49. Lionel Messi was honoured with the Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year 2023 at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards [ This is the 2nd time that Lionel Messi has been honoured with the Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year Award In 2020 he shared the award with British race car driver Lewis Hamilton ].

- Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce won the Laureus World Sportswoman Of The Year 2023.

50. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Nadia, West Bengal won the first prize in the 24th National Youth Parliament Competition, 2022-23.

- The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has been organising Youth Parliament Competitions in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas for the past 26 years. 80 Vidyalayas spread over 8 regions of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti participated in the 24th National Youth Parliament Competition.

51. Accenture has appointed Ajay Vij to the newly created role of Country Managing Director (MD) .

52. Indian-American public policy expert Neera Tandon has been appointed as the Domestic Policy Advisor in US President Joe Biden's team.

- She became the first Asian-American to lead the White House Advisory Council. Tanden replaces Susan Rice as Biden s Domestic Policy Advisor.

53. Indian weightlifters concluded the Asian Weightlifting Championships Jinju 2023 in Jinju South Korea, with a total of 3 silver medals.

- Asian Weightlifting Championships Jinju 2023 was held from 03 to 13 May 2023 in Jinju South Korea.

54. Ajai Chowdhry one of the six founding members of HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited), authored a new book titled " Just Aspire : Notes on Technology, Entrepreneurship and the Future " .

55. Sahitya Akademi Award winner and popular Bengali writer Samaresh Majumdar passed away at the age of 79 in Kolkata, West Bengal.

- He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for the second novel of the series, " Kalbela " in 1984 which was set against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement of West Bengal in 1960s and 1970s. He got the Bankim Puroshkar award (the highest award given by the Government of West Bengal) in 2009 for contribution to Bengali fiction " Kolikataye Nobokumar " .

56. The United Nations annually marks the 8th and 9th of May as the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who lost Their Lives during the Second World War to pay tribute to the victims of the Second World War.

57. Yes Bank Limited announced the launch of a solar financing scheme named " YES KIRAN " to offer financial assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises manufacturers who wish to install solar panels at their premises.

-  The bank has partnered with solar panel manufacturers like Tata Power Solar Systems, Goldi Solar and Loom Solar, and Panasonic Solar Power System to facilitate MSME businesses for their transition to renewable energy solutions.

58. Axis Bank Limited (formerly known as UTI Bank), India's third largest private sector bank, enabled RuPay Credit Card support on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

59. Agritech firm Rukart, based in Kalyan, Maharashtra, has joined hands with State Bank of India (SBI) to offer easy loan options for the purchase of its Subjee Cooler, a cold storage system that enhances the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

- Rukart's Subjee Cooler is a cold chain storage system that requires only 20 litres of water per day to operate. Each cooler costs Rs 50,000 and can store up to 100 kg.

60. Federal Bank Limited partners with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) to launch an electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility for its customers, enabling them to obtain a Bank Guarantee digitally, replacing the traditional paper-based process.

61. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) partnered with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists to develop cutting edge Piezoelectric MEMS technology sensor for underwater communications. This sensor will be used by the Indian Navy's Next Generation SONAR initiative by DRDO to support both innovative and modern technological advances.

62. PTC India Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with Brookfield Renewable, for the procurement of 100 MW solar power on a long term basis. Brookfield Renewables is developing a 400 MW solar power project at the Bikaner solar park in Rajasthan.

63. MyGov in collaboration with Ministry of Culture launched a " YUVA PRATIBHA " Singing Talent Hunt with an aim to promote Indian music at the grassroots level on a national scale by identifying and recognising the new and young talent in various singing genres such as Folk, Patriotic, and Contemporary.

- The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd winners will be rewarded with Rs 1,50,000 , Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively, along with a Trophy and Certificate.

64. Union Minister Rajesh Bhushan Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has launched SAKSHAM (Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management), a learning management information system (LMIS) of MoHFW. SAKSHAM was developed by the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.

65. In Uttarakhand, a capacity building program for civil servants of Maldives and Bangladesh is being organized by the National Center for Good Governance (NCGG) at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. 50 administrative trainees from Maldives and 45 from Bangladesh are participating in this programme.

66. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) completed 8 years of providing social security cover.

- PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY were launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 9th May, 2015 from Kolkata, West Bengal.

67. The Competition Act, 2002 has approved the subscription of certain compulsorily convertible debentures issued by Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL) by Edelweiss Alternative Asset Advisors (EAAA) and ESOF III Investment Fund under Section 5(a).

68. The winners of the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism Books, Drama and Music and Special Citations were announced. The Pulitzer Prize, administered by Columbia University in New York, United States of America(USA), is considered the most prestigious prize in US journalism.

- Categories : The Pulitzer Prize recognises the work in 22 categories, i.e. 15 journalism categories seven arts categories and one special citation.

69. Laneige, the Korean skincare brand, has announced actor Athiya Shetty as its first ever brand face in India.

70. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced a new introductory level online training programme called Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START). START is aimed at postgraduate and final year undergraduate students of Physical Sciences and Technology. It will be delivered by scientists from Indian academia and ISRO centres.

- Academic institutions can submit applications for the programme through the Jigyasa portal by May 20.

71. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has laid the foundation for the Hare Krishna Heritage Tower in Hyderabad. The 400 feet (120 meters) tall structure will be constructed on six acres of land in Narsingi at a cost of Rs. 200 crore [ The tower will house the temples of Sri Sri Radha Krishna and Sri Venkateswara Swamy ].

- The chief minister announced Rs. 25 crore on behalf of the state government for the construction of the temple.

72. Punjab has become the first Indian State to implement the " Right to walk " by making it mandatory for all road owning agencies, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide footpaths and cycle tracks in all future expansion of roads and construction of new ones.

73. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a notification on May 10, 2023, allowing stock exchanges to extend Direct Market Access (DMA) facility to foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) for Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives (ETCDs) with immediate effect. This move was made in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992, to protect the interests of investors in securities and promote the development of the securities market.

74. India has extended a USD 1 billion credit line for Sri Lanka by one year until March 2024 thus providing a backup infusion of dollars for essential imports.

- The credit line is part of about USD 4 billion in emergency assistance extended by India during the peak of Sri Lanka’s financial crisis in 2022, which was scheduled to end in March 2023.

75. RBL Bank, an Indian private sector bank headquartered in Mumbai and founded in 1943, has launched a new service for direct tax collections on behalf of the Government of India (GoI) through the upgraded Tax Information Network (TIN2.0) portal.

- This is the second such service from the bank, which was empanelled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as an 'Agency Bank' to conduct banking business for the Central and State Governments.

- Bank of India (BOI) has become the first public sector bank to go live on Income Tax Department's new Direct Tax Collection System TIN 2.0 .

76. The oldest and largest national trade union of bank employees in India, " All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) ", is launching an online service called " Bank Clinic " to help bank customers with their complaints.

- Bank Clinic will allow customers to file their grievances online and AIBEA’s team will follow up with the bank to resolve the issue.

- The aim of Bank Clinic is to provide assistance to customers and to give feedback to banks on areas where they need to improve their service.

77. Ora Finance Private Limited, a subsidiary of the fintech-driven agritech firm Unnati, has become the first company in the agritech space to receive a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) license. This will allow Ora Finance to provide financial services to various stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including farmers, retailers, traders, brands, and food processors.

78. HSBC Bank has been fined Rs 1.73 crore by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for violating the Credit Information Companies Rules, 2006 (CIC Rules) .

79. Fitch Ratings has predicted India s GDP growth forecast for 2023-24 to 6% from 6.2% and 6.7% in 2024-25

[ Reason : Citing headwinds from elevated inflation and interest rates along with subdued global demand ].

80. On May 10, 2023, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the 'Harit Sagar Guidelines - 2023', also known as the Green Port Guidelines. The guidelines were prepared by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways to achieve the goal of zero carbon emission.

- The objective of the guidelines is to minimize waste through the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle) and promote monitoring based on Environmental Performance Indicators.

- According to the statement of Sarbananda Sonowal, ports are undertaking green initiatives and actively contributing to the fulfillment of the "Panchamrit" commitments announced by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.

- At Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023 launch event, Awards were conferred for the major ports for their all time best performance.

List of awards :

1. Best port for the year 2022-23 : Paradip Port, Odisha

2. The award for the best Absolute Performance for the year 2022-23 : Deendayal Port, Kandla (Gujarat)

3. Pre berthing detention time : The Kamarajar Port, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)

4. For achieving major milestone in Turn Around Time : Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai (Maharashtra)

5. Performance shield in turn around time (non-container port) : Cochin Port (Kerala)

81. On May 10, 2023, Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani launched “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi”, the flagship program of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. The program was launched during a national event organized by MoWCD on key initiatives for strengthening ECCE at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

- ECCE is an important component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and is envisaged under the National Education Policy.

- Smriti Zubin Irani stated that Rs. 600 crore is being proposed to be allocated for the training process under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi.

82. Russia holds the 78th Victory Day parade anniversary at Red Square, Moscow on May 9 to commemorate the historic victory in 1945 when the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany in World War II, which is also known as the Great Patriotic War.

83. The board of directors of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) has appointed Rajiv Dhar as the interim Chief Executive officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of NIIFL.

84. Former Speaker Wesley W Simina was elected as the new and 10th President of the Federation States of Micronesia (FSM) during the 1st regular session of the 23rd FSM Congress in Micronesia.

85. On May 10, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a major milestone by conducting the first integrated test on an intermediate configuration of the 2000kN (kiloNewton) Semi-cryogenic Engine. The test was conducted at the newly commissioned Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine & Stage Test facility at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

86. Indian Wushu athletes has won a total of 17 medals (10 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze) at the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship 2023 held in Moscow, Russia from 2nd May to 8th May 2023.

- The girls won the medals in the junior girls, sub-junior girls and senior girls categories across Sanda (Fight) and Taolu in Moscow, Russia.

- On May 9 2023 , the Sports Authority of India (SAI) felicitated the 17 medal winners in the felicitation ceremony hosted by SAI in New Delhi, Delhi.

87. Uttar Pradesh becomes first state to make digital health cards for children.

- The Uttar Pradesh's Urban Development Department and Lucknow Smart City launched a School Health Program. Under the pilot project, the School Health Program has been started by Lucknow Smart City in three schools in Lucknow. A digital health report card for the overall physical and mental well being of 1765 municipal school students is also being prepared under the project.

- The benefit of health insurance worth Rs. 25,000 is also being given to these children.

88. Mexican football goalkeeper Antonio Félix Tota Carbajal Rodríguez (Antonio Carbajal), the 1st footballer to play in 5 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de football association/ International Federation of Association Football) World Cups, passed away in León, Mexico, at the age of 93.

- He played 47 games for the Mexican national team and appeared in World Cups in Brazil in 1950 (Switzerland), in 1954 (Sweden) , in 1958 (Chile) in 1962 and in 1966 (England).

News360 - 16th May , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

National & International News :

1. Union Minister Jitendra Singh graced the Valedictory Ceremony of National Technology Week 2023 at Delhi

Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, attended the closing ceremony of the four-day event called "National Technology Week 2023" held from 11th to 14th May 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.

During this significant event, the Technology Development Board (TDB) presented the prestigious National Technology Awards 2023 to deserving individuals and organizations from the industries, entrepreneurship, and scientific communities. These awardees were recognized for their remarkable contributions in bringing innovation to the market and supporting the vision of "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India).

The National Technology Awards 2023 were conferred upon 11 winners, following a rigorous two-tier evaluation process.

- National Technology Awards 2023 :

The National Technology Awards were bestowed in five distinct categories: Main, MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises), Startup, Translational Research, and Technology Business Incubator.

The recipients of these prestigious awards were selected from diverse industries for their outstanding achievements in successfully commercializing innovative indigenous technologies. Additionally, scientists who made significant contributions to research and professionals associated with Technology Business Incubators were also recognized and honored.

Winners of National Technology Awards 2023 :

2. MoD approves 4th Positive Indigenisation Projects

On May 14, 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), under the leadership of Union Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the 4th Positive Indigenization List (PIL) comprising 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Spares & Components, including high-end materials and spares.

The total import substitution value of this list amounts to Rs 715 crore. Comprehensive information about these items can be found on the SRIJAN Portal. It is essential to note that these items will be exclusively procured from the Indian Industry within the specified timelines mentioned in the list.

- The introduction of PIL in Defence serves two significant purposes :

(i) To promote self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in the defense sector.

(ii) To minimize imports by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

- Some key points to consider are :

(i) This fourth list follows the publication of three previous PILs, which were issued in December 2021, March 2022, and August 2022, respectively. The earlier lists encompassed a total of 2,500 items that have already been indigenized, along with 1,238 items (351+107+780) that are projected to be indigenized within the given timelines.

(ii) Out of the 1,238 items, 310 items (262 from the 1st PIL, 11 from the 2nd PIL, and 37 from the 3rd PIL) have been successfully indigenized thus far.

(iii) The DPSUs will carry out the indigenization process through various methods, including the 'Make' category and in-house development utilizing Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the private Indian industry. This approach will not only bolster economic growth and defense investment but also reduce dependence on imports while enhancing the design capabilities of the domestic defense industry.

3. SCO ICT Ministers adopted India's proposal to adopt DPI

On May 13, 2023, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members unanimously embraced India's proposition to support the development and adoption of India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including Aadhaar, United Payments Interface (UPI), and DigiLocker. The adoption took place during a meeting of the SCO ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development, chaired by India. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw from the Ministry of Communications.

- Key highlights of this development are as follows :

(i) The DPI initiative aims to facilitate the deployment of digital technologies among SCO member states, fostering digitally inclusive growth.

(ii) The SCO acknowledges the importance of interoperability and the establishment of common standards for digital systems.

(iii) India has plans to invest $3 billion to extend mobile connectivity to remote villages and $5 billion to ensure broadband connectivity reaches all 250,000 Gram Panchayats (local self-governance institutions).

(iv) Furthermore, India is set to chair the Annual Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) summit in December.

The SCO comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan), four Observer States (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia) with aspirations for full membership, and six Dialogue Partners (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey).

4. 4th India-Indonesia Bilateral Naval Exercise Samudra Shakti 23 held at Batam, Indonesia

The Indian Navy (IN) and Indonesian Navy (IDN) are conducting the 4th edition of the India-Indonesia Bilateral Naval Exercise Samudra Shakti-23 for six days, from May 14-19, 2023, at Batam, Indonesia.

- Representatives from India include INS Kavaratti, an indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette, a Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft, and a Chetak helicopter. The Indonesian Navy is represented by KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and AS565 Panther Helicopter. KRI stands for Kapal Perang Republik Indonesia, which translates to Naval Vessel of the Republic of Indonesia.

- The objective of this exercise is to improve interoperability, jointness, and cooperation between both navies. The exercise consists of a harbour phase and a sea phase. During the harbour phase, cross-deck visits, professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges, and sports fixtures will take place. The sea phase will include planned weapon firing, helicopter operations, anti-submarine warfare and air defence exercises, and boarding operations.

- This exercise will demonstrate the high level of interoperability between the two navies and their shared commitment to peace and stability in the region. Samudra Shakti began in 2018 between IN and IDN

5. Indian Navy Scuccessfully Test-fired BrahMos Missile from INS Mormugao

On May 14, 2023, the Indian Navy's frontline guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

This significant achievement showcases the embodiment of 'AatmaNirbharta' (self-reliance) in both the indigenous ship, INS Mormugao, and the weapon system, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, further enhancing the Indian Navy's formidable firepower at sea.

- Here are some key details about the BrahMos missile :

(i) It is a supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

(ii) The missile achieves a remarkable speed of 2.8 Mach, which is nearly three times the speed of sound.

(iii) The production of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles is carried out by BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

- It is noteworthy that India is also exporting BrahMos missiles, with the Philippines being the first country to procure the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. In January 2022, the Philippines signed a 'notice of award' for the missile system to be supplied to the Philippine Navy. A deal worth US$375 million was signed between India and the Philippines, with India supplying three missile batteries.

- INS Mormugao, the vessel from which the BrahMos missile was test-fired, is the second ship of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers in the Indian Navy. It was constructed at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and was launched on September 17, 2016. The ship was commissioned on December 18, 2022.

6. Bhupender Yadav launched Meri LiFE App, track the progress made on Mission LiFE

On May 15, 2023, Bhupender Yadav, the Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, inaugurated a mobile application called "Meri LiFE" (My life) in New Delhi, Delhi. The purpose of this app is to mobilize youth action for climate change.

Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's concept of LiFE, as envisioned at the COP26 (Conference of the Parties), the app encourages mindful and intentional utilization instead of mindless and wasteful consumption.

- The main objective of the Meri LiFE app is to demonstrate the power of citizens, particularly young people, in environmental conservation. It provides a structured approach to monitor the progress made on Mission LiFE.

- Here are some key details about the Meri LiFE app :

The app is available for download on the Google Play Store. Once users sign in, they will be guided to engage in a series of LiFE-related tasks under five themes :

(i) Save Energy

(ii) Save Water

(iii) Reduce Single-Use Plastic

(iv) Adopt Sustainable Food Systems

(v) Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

By using the Meri LiFE app, individuals can realize that even simple actions in their daily lives can have a significant impact on climate change.

Both the portal and the app work in unison to drive a nationwide movement for LiFE, highlighting the importance of sustainable living and environmental consciousness.

7. Elon Musk appoints Linda Yaccarino as Twitter CEO

On May 11 2023, Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla and SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation), officially announced Linda Yaccarino, as the new CEO of Twitter, and she would succeed Elon Musk as the CEO of both Twitter and X Corp, a technology company.

- Linda Yaccarino is the current head of New York (United States of America) headquartered NBC(National Broadcasting Company)Universal’s advertising sales and is set to begin her role as a CEO of Twitter in six weeks.

- Yaccarino is the first female Twitter CEO and also the first to come from a non-tech background.

8. Alia Bhatt becomes 1st Indian Global Ambassador of Gucci

Alia Bhatt, a Bollywood actress, producer, and entrepreneur, has been announced as the 1st Indian global ambassador for Gucci, a high-end luxury fashion house based in Florence, Italy.

- She will make her 1st appearance as the brand ambassador at the Gucci Cruise 2024 show, to be staged in Seoul, South Korea, at Gyeongbokgung Palace, on 16th May 2023, which will mark the 25 years since the brand  opened its first store.

- Recently, Alia Bhatt made her debut at the MET Gala 2023 on 1st May 2023.

- The other brand endorsed by Alia Bhatt are Cadbury, Make My Trip, Blenders Pride, Lay’s, Caprese, Manyavar, Cornetto, Titan Raga, Phonepe, Phillips and many more.

9. 2023 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize won by Arinze Ifeakandu

Arinze Ifeakandu, a 28-year-old Nigerian writer, received the 2023 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for his first book, God’s Children Are Little Broken Things. The book is a collection of nine stories that explore queer love and identity in Nigeria. The prize, which honours the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, is one of the most prestigious awards for young writers in the English language. Ifeakandu was presented with the £20,000 prize at a ceremony in London on 11 May 2023, the 70th anniversary of Thomas’s death.

- God’s Children Are Little Broken Things also won the 2022 Republic of Consciousness Prize for the US and Canada and the Story Prize Spotlight Award. The title story follows the romance of Lotanna and Kamsi, two college boys who face cultural and social challenges. Ifeakandu, who was born in Kano, Nigeria, and graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, said he wanted his book to be “really wonderful company for someone” and to make people “feel seen”.

- The other finalists for the Dylan Thomas Prize were Robbie Arnott for Limberlost, Sara Baume for Seven Steeples, Sheena Patel for I’m a Fan, Saba Sams for Send Nudes and Warsan Shire for Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head. The judges praised Ifeakandu’s debut as “exhilarating” and “kaleidoscopic”, and said they were eager to read his next work.

- Patricia Lockwood won the Dylan Thomas Prize in 2022 for her novel No One Is Talking About This.

10. Lithuanian Embassy releases Comic Book Titled “First Lithuanian Travelers in India”

On 10th May 2023, the embassy of Lithuania released a comic titled “First Lithuanian Travelers in India”, which was launched by Diana Mickevičienė, Lithuanian ambassador to India.

- The comic book, which has been translated into Hindi, has been released as a sign of friendship between the two nations. The comic book depicts real historical personalities men and women from Lithuania whose individual discovery of India was the first recorded connection between the two countries.

- The comic is based on the historical books, India & Lithuania : A Personal Bond and From Lithuania to Santiniketan Schlomith Flaum & Rabindranath Tagore.

11. NASA Launches 2nd Super Pressure Balloon from New Zealand

The Scientific Balloon Program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully launched its second football-stadium-sized Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) from Wānaka Airport, New Zealand. The SPB is designed for a technology mission with a target flight duration of 100 days or more in the Earth's upper atmosphere.

- The primary objective of this mission is to test and qualify the SPB technology for future flights. This balloon launch marks the final launch for NASA's 2023 New Zealand balloon launch campaign. The launch is conducted in collaboration with the Queenstown Airport Corporation, Queenstown Lake District Council, New Zealand Space Agency, and Airways New Zealand.

- Notable details about the Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) include :

(i) The SPB is helium-filled and approximately the size of a football stadium when fully inflated. It has a volume of 18.8 million cubic feet (532,000 cubic meters).

(ii) With an operational float height of around 110,000 feet (33.5 miles), the SPB flies at high altitudes in the Earth's upper atmosphere.

- Wānaka, New Zealand, serves as NASA's dedicated launch site for mid-latitude, long-duration balloon missions.

- It is worth mentioning that the first Super Pressure Balloon was launched on April 16, 2023, and has already completed three revolutions around the Earth's southern hemisphere, flying at an altitude of approximately 108,000 feet.

Banking & Finance News :

1. Quant Mutual Fund Launched an Open-ended Equity Scheme ‘Quant Business Cycle Fund’

Quant Business Cycle Fund is a new open-ended equity scheme that aims to capitalize on the fluctuations of the economy by investing in sectors and stocks that benefit from different stages of the business cycle. The scheme will be open for subscription until May 25 2023.

The scheme's objective is to generate long-term capital appreciation by following a business cycle-based investing theme. The scheme will benchmark its performance against the NSE 500 TRI, which reflects the returns of 500 companies listed on the National Stock Exchange.

- Some key features of the scheme are :

(i) Minimum Application Amount: Rs 5,000 for initial investment and Rs 1,000 for additional purchase or switch. For SIP, Rs 1,000 for weekly, fortnightly, and monthly frequency and Rs 3,000 for quarterly frequency.

(ii) Plan and Options: Regular Plan and Direct Plan with Growth and IDCW options.

(iii) Asset Allocation: At least 80% in equity and equity-related instruments (including equity ETFs) selected on the basis of business cycle. Up to 20% in debt & money market instruments (including debt ETFs), up to 20% in Gold & Silver ETFs, or up to 10% in REITs and InvITs. Investments in Foreign Securities shall not exceed 20%.

2. RBI : Banks to Commence ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ Campaign for Return of Unclaimed Deposits

As per the announcement of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 12, 2023, banks are set to commence a ‘100  Days 100 Pays’ campaign, where they will trace and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits of every bank in every district within 100 days.The banks will commence the campaign on June 01, 2023.

- Objective of ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign is to complement the ongoing efforts and initiatives by the RBI to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits in the banking system and return such deposits to their rightful owners/ claimants.

- As per the RBI data, at the end of February 2023, the total amount of unclaimed deposits transferred to the RBI by Public Sector Banks in respect of deposits that have not been operated for 10 years or more was Rs 35,012 crore. 

3. PayNearby launches ‘PayNearby Mall’ for Small Businesses & Consumers ahead of ONDC Platform

On 12th May 2023, PayNearby, India’s leading branchless banking and digital network, launched “PayNearby Mall”, a meta-commerce platform to enable the availability of goods and services, in an assisted mode at the last mile.

- This will soon be integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

- With this initiative, PayNearby aims to upgrade every retailer, in its million+ active network to ensure they can benefit from the ongoing e-commerce revolution, including the ONDC platform.

- Customers can walk into their nearest PayNearby store and with the help of the local retailer, discover any seller, product or service at the most optimal price point.

** Anand Kumar Bajaj is the Founder and current MD & CEO of PayNearby.

Other News :

1. Eminent Singer Kalyani Kazi Passed Away

On 12th May 2023, Kalyani Kazi, the eminent singer and the youngest daughter-in-law of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal, at the age of 87.

- Kalyani Kazi was a member of the advisory council of Poschimbongo Kazi Nazrul Islam Akademi. She was honoured with the Sangeet Mahasamman Award from West Bengal in 2015.

2. International Day of Families 2023 - 15th May

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Families is annually observed across the globe on May 15 to celebrate the importance of families and highlight their role in society.

- The day aims to raise awareness about the social, economic, and demographic changes that impact families worldwide. International Day of Families 2023 was observed on 15th May 2023 under the theme “Demographic Trends and Families”.

- The 1st ever International Day of Families was observed on 15th May 1994.