ISRO PLANS MISSION TO VENUS BY DEC 2024
- The Indian Space Research Organisation will send a spacecraft to orbit Venus to study what lies below its surface, the space body’s Chairperson S Somnath announced.
- ISRO is expecting to launch the mission by December 2024 with an orbital manoeuvre planned for a year after that. The orbital manoeuvre is the use of propulsion systems to change the orbit of a spacecraft. It enables a spacecraft to enter a planet’s orbit.
INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTER’S DAY 2022
- International Firefighter’s Day is observed every year on May 4th to pay respect to those firefighting experts who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The main aim of this day is to recognise and honour professional firefighters across the world.
- They keep the community and the environment safe by sacrificing their lives for the riskiest jobs. A tragic incident in Australia’s Linton led to the establishment of International Firefighters Day.
- This historical accident happened on December 02, 1998, which led to the taking of the lives of 5 firefighters. Therefore, a proposal was passed on January 04, 1999, to honour the firefighters who lost their lives on duty.
COAL MINERS DAY 2022
- Coal Miners Day is observed on 4th May every year to honour the coal miners. The day is celebrated to highlight the contributions of coal miners in meeting our energy demands. Below, we share a bit of the history of coal mining, the current energy scenario, and the role of coal miners in India.
- The day honours the accomplishments and sacrifices made by coal mine workers so far. While the first-ever coal mine was opened in 1575 by one George Bruce of Carnock, Scotland. In India, the coal mining business began in 1774. It was when the East India Company exploited the Raniganj coalfield which is located in the Asansol and Durgapur It falls along the bank of River Damodar that crosses Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- The Mines Act 1952, Mine Rules 1955, Coal Mine Regulation-1957, among others, lay down the provisions for the health, safety and welfare of workers in coal, oil and metal mines.
WORLD HAND HYGIENE DAY 2022
- World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) is annually observed across the globe on the 5th of May to maintain global promotion, visibility, and sustainability of hand hygiene in health care.
- This year, WHO is marking the day with the theme – Unite for safety: clean your hands, with a focus on encouraging people to clean their hands at the right times with the right products that will help lead to high quality safer care everywhere.
- WHO launched the “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands” global annual campaign in 2009, which is celebrated as World Hand Hygiene Day on 5th May to further the goal of maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care.
INDIA TO BE ‘COUNTRY OF HONOUR’ AT CANNES MARCHE’ DU FILM IN FRANCE
- Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur has announced that India will be the official Country of Honour at the upcoming Marche’ Du Film, organized alongside the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, in France.
- The Country of Honour Status thereby ensured India’s presence as Focus Country at the Opening Night of Marche Du Films being organized at the Majestic Beach with a spotlight on India, its cinema, its culture & heritage.
- India is also a “Country of Honour at the Cannes Next, under which 5 new Start-Ups would be given an opportunity to pitch to the Audio-Visual Industry. Ten professionals will participate in the Animation Day networking.
- In another highlight of India’s participation at this edition of the Cannes Film Festival is the World Premiere of the Movie “Rocketry” produced by Shri. R. Madhavan. The movie would be showcased at the Palais des Festivals of the market screening on the 19th of May 2022.
TELANGANA GOVT EXTENDS INSURANCE COVERAGE UNDER ‘NETHANNA BIMA’ SCHEME
- Telangana State Government has announced the extension of insurance coverage to handloom and power loom weavers under the ‘Nethanna Bima’ (Weaver’s Insurance) Scheme. The State Government has issued orders to extend insurance coverage of 5 lakh rupees for weavers under the Insurance Scheme on par with farmers’ insurance schemes.
- Over 29 crore rupees have been sanctioned for implementing the scheme during the current year. The Cabinet Sub Committee had proposed to cover over 55 thousand handloom and power loom and ancillary weavers in the State.
- The insurance coverage will be extended to weavers in the age group of 18 to 59 years. The insurance benefits would be extended to the family of the death of the weaver or ancillary worker. The scheme is likely to be launched next month.
- The department has been directed to prepare draft guidelines and submit to the government for implementation of the scheme, said a senior official from the Handlooms department.
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE GRID (NATGRID) BENGALURU CAMPUS INAUGURATED BY AMIT SHAH
- Home Minister, Amit Shah inaugurates the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) campus in Bengaluru. According to Home Minister Amit Shah, the Narendra Modi government has had a zero-tolerance attitude toward terrorism since the beginning.
- Mr Shah remarked during the inauguration of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) premises in Bengaluru that security requirements have increased dramatically in terms of data, scope, and complexity compared to past issues.
- According to him, legal and security authorities require automated, secure, and quick access to data gathered from credible sources.
- The government has tasked NATGRID with establishing and operating a cutting-edge and innovative information technology infrastructure for obtaining data from data collection agencies.
- The Union Government will soon build a national database to track hawala transactions, terrorist funding, counterfeit cash, narcotics, and bomb threats, illicit arms smuggling, and other terrorist operations.
- The Home Minister stated that intelligence and legal agencies should now be able to fully utilise information due to the removal of impediments to essential data.
FAO’S FLAGSHIP RELEASED ITS PUBLICATION “THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS”
- The State of the World’s Forests 2022 explores the significance of three forest pathways for achieving green recovery and addressing environmental crises such as climate change and biodiversity loss, against the backdrop of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use and 140 countries’ pledge to end forest loss by 2030 and support restoration and sustainable production and consumption.
- Stopping deforestation and sustaining forests, repairing degraded lands and increasing agroforestry, managing forests responsibly and establishing green value chains are the three interconnected pathways.
NAND MULCHANDANI NAMED AS 1ST-EVER CHIEF TECH OFFICER OF CIA
- Indian-Origin, Nand Mulchandani has been appointed as the first-ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the first line of defence for the United States.
- Prior to this, he served as the CTO and acting director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Centre under the US Department of Defence. He served as the CEO of multiple successful startups like Oblix (acquired by Oracle), Determina, OpenDNS, and ScaleXtreme.
- Mulchandani completed his schooling in Delhi. He studied at the Bluebells School International between 1979 and 1987 and then went to Cornell University for his undergraduate course in Computer Science and Math. He then went on to secure a Master of Science degree in Management from Stanford, and a Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Central Intelligence Agency Founder: Harry S. Truman;
- Central Intelligence Agency Founded: 26 July 1947;
- Central Intelligence Agency Headquarters: Langley, McLean, Virginia, United States;
- Central Intelligence Agency Director: William J. Burns;
- Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Director: David S. Cohen.
HYDERABAD HOSTS INDIA’S FIRST-EVER UNIQUE KIND OF FLOW CHEMISTRY TECHNOLOGY HUB
- At Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS), a multi-industry-supported Flow Chemistry Technology Hub (FCT Hub) has been launched . While inaugurating the hub, Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of the Industries and Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT), said that this is the first of its kind in our country and an enabler for the pharma business in India.
ODISHA TO HOST INDIA’S FIRST TRIBAL HEALTH OBSERVATORY
- Odisha is planning to create India’s only observatory, which will house data on the state’s indigenous population’s health. The ST and SC Development Department and the RMRC, a regional institution of the Indian Council of Medical Research, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard.
- The Tribal Health Observatory (TriHOb) is the “first in the nation,” according to the Information Department, and is aimed to be an effective, evidence-based, and policy-oriented centre.
- It will monitor illness burden, health-seeking behaviour, and the healthcare delivery system in relation to tribal health in the state in a systematic and continuing manner.
- ‘Mo School’ Abhiyan chairman Sushmita Bagchi also inaugurated a tribal family health survey among indigenous groups during the event in which the MoU was signed.
- The survey will serve as a springboard for future longitudinal cohort studies and policy research.
- The ‘Mo School’ (My School) programme aims to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the renovation of government and government-aided schools in Odisha.
MAHARASHTRA’S ‘JIVHALA’ SCHEME TO OFFER CREDIT TO JAIL INMATES
- A loan scheme named Jivhala has been launched by the Maharashtra Department of Prisons for the inmates who are serving sentences in various jails across Maharashtra. The scheme, implemented by the Department of Prisons and Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, has been started in Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail.
IBM CHAIRMAN ARVIND KRISHNA ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK
- IBM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Arvind Krishna has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He will fill the vacancy in the office for the remaining portion of a three-year term ending December 31, 2023.
INDIA RANKED 21ST IN CHAINALYSIS 2021 CRYPTOCURRENCY GAINS BY COUNTRY
- According to the data released by crypto analytics firm Chainalysis, investors around the world realized total Crypto gains of $162.7 billion in 2021, compared to $32.5 billion in 2020.
- This is 2nd consecutive data by Chainalysis. Ethereum is the most noteworthy gainer among the crypto assets. The report highlights that Ethereum edged out Bitcoin in total realized gains globally at $76.3 billion to $74.7 billion.
- However, India ranked lowly at 21st with realized gains of around $1.85 billion while it is topped by the United States with an estimated realized Crypto gain of $49.95 billion.
- The US is followed by the United Kingdom at 2nd with estimated realized Crypto gains of $8.16 billion, Germany ($5.82 billion), Japan ($5.51 billion), and China ($5.06 billion).
TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION (THE) IMPACT RANKINGS 2022: INDIA RANKED 4TH
- The Times Higher Education (THE) has released the 2022 edition of its Impact Rankings. 8 Universities from India are placed in the top 300 universities in the world.
- The ranking is topped by Western Sydney University (Australia); followed by Arizona State University (The US), Western University (Canada). This year, a record 1,524 institutions from 110 countries participated in the rankings. Australia’s Western Sydney University secured the top position globally in the overall ranking.
- India is the joint fourth most-represented nation across the rankings, with 64 universities featuring in total (the same number as Turkey).
- In South Asia, India breaks through into the world’s top 50, with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham claiming 41st place in the overall table. Lovely Professional University makes the top 100 at joint 74th place in the overall table.
- Calcutta University has been ranked first among all the central and state-aided public universities in the country by Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2022. Calcutta University grabbed 14th position globally in the ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’ sub-category.
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2022: INDIA RANKED 150TH
- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released the 20th World Press Freedom Index 2022, which assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories. The Index highlights the disastrous effects of news and information chaos – the effects of a globalised and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda.
- India’s ranking in the Index has fallen down to 150th position from last year’s 142nd rank.
- The ranking of India’s neighbours, except that of Nepal, has also slid down, with the index placing. Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
- Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Maynmar at 176th position.
- Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories.
- Russia was placed at 155th position, down from 150th last year, while China climbed up by two positions with the Reporters Without Borders placing it at 175th position. Last year, China was placed at 177th position.
- The invasion of Ukraine (106th) by Russia (155th) at the end of February reflects this process, as the physical conflict was preceded by a propaganda war.
DD NATIONAL PET SHOW ‘BEST FRIEND FOREVER’ WINS ENBA AWARD 2021
- Doordarshan has won ENBA Award 2021 for the best in-depth Hindi series for its TV series based on pet care ‘Best Friend Forever’ at the 14th edition of the Exchange4media News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA). The show is aired every Sunday at 7 pm and is also available on the YouTube channel of DD National.
- Best Friend Forever is a half-an-hour weekly live phone-in show on DD National, wherein two pet experts guide people on how to take care of their pets, about their food, nutrition, routine health check-ups, vaccination and other pet-related issues.
INDO-GERMAN GREEN HYDROGEN TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED AFTER INDIA AND GERMANY INKED A JOINT DECLARATION OF INTENT
- Union Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy Shri R.K Singh and German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Change Dr. Robert Habeck virtually signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on an Indo-German Hydrogen Task Force.
- India has emerged as a global leader in the energy transition, with the world’s highest pace of expansion in renewable energy capacity.
- Minisiter R.K. Singh informed his German counterpart that India has a clear bidding procedure, an open market, a quick dispute resolution system, and is widely recognised as one of the most attractive RE investment destinations.
IIT BOMBAY AND IMD SIGNED MOU TO DEVELOP USER-FRIENDLY WEATHER FORECASTING APP
- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) has partnered with the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ India Meteorological Department (IMD) to develop climate solutions for stakeholders at the village, city, and district levels.
- The partnership will aid the institute in the development of sensors and drone-based smart monitoring systems, climate-smart agriculture technology for water and food security, intelligent and automated early warning systems, climate and health, smart power grid management, wind energy forecasting, and heat wave forecasting.
- IIT Bombay is intending to build a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Climate Services and Solutions within the Interdisciplinary Program in Climate Studies (IDPCS), given the country’s ambitious goal of reaching net zero by 2070.
- “IDPCS at IIT Bombay was established in 2012 and has finished its 10-year journey with considerable financial backing from the Department of Science and Technology.”
KHELO INDIA UNIVERSITY GAMES 2021 WON BY JAIN UNIVERSITY
- JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) with 20 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze medals has won the 2nd edition of the Khelo India University Games 2021. Lovely Professional University (LPU) with 17 golds has placed second and Punjab University placed third with 15 gold medals.
- Siva Sridhar has emerged as the star swimmer by winning 11 gold. The closing ceremony of KIUG was held at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium, Bengaluru. Veera was the mascot of KIUG 2021.
WORLD FOOD PRIZE 2022 RECEIVED BY NASA’S CYNTHIA ROSENZWEIG
- A senior research scientist and head of the Climate Impacts Group at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, Cynthia Rosenzweig has received the 2022 World Food Prize from the World Food Prize Foundation.
- Rosenzweig was selected for the award for her research to understand the relationship between climate and food systems and forecast how both will change in the future.
- Her modelling work has provided a foundation for decision-makers around the world to create strategies to mitigate climate change and adapt our food systems to a changing planet, which has helped communities worldwide address the consequences of Earth’s changing climate.
- According to the World Food Prize Foundation, the World Food Prize is a prestigious international award conceived as the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture” with a mission to elevate innovations and inspire action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.
- Reward(s): A diploma, a commemorative sculpture and a monetary award of US$ 250,000.
WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE 2022 WON BY RONNIE O’SULLIVAN
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (England) has won the 2022 World Snooker Championship by defeating Judd Trump (England) against 18-13 in the finals, which were held from April 16 to May 2, 2022 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
BCCI BANS JOURNALIST BORIA MAJUMDAR FOR 2 YEARS IN WRIDDHIMAN SAHA CASE
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has banned journalist Boria Majumdar for two years after an internal inquiry found him guilty of an attempt to “threaten and intimidate” wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.
- The BCCI apex council, during its meeting last week, considered the report of a three-member committee and decided to ban Majumdar from being involved in any cricket or interviewing cricketers for two years.
TOKYO OLYMPIAN DISCUS THROWER KAMALPREET KAUR PROVISIONALLY SUSPENDED
- Olympian discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur has been provisionally suspended by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for testing positive for a banned substance.
- Kamalpreet, who was tested on March 29, was suspended for the presence/use of the prohibited substance stanozolol in her sample, a breach of the World Athletics anti-doping rules. Kaur had made it to the Tokyo Olympics final, finishing sixth with a throw of 63.7m.
24TH DEAFLYMPICS: DHANUSH SRIKANTH WON GOLD IN MEN’S 10M AIR RIFLE
- Shooter Dhanush Srikanth has won gold and Shourya Saini has won the bronze in the men’s 10m air rifle competition in the 24th Deaflympics at Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
- Later, the Indian badminton team also won gold after beating Japan by 3-1 in the final to make it a double celebration for the country.
- Ukraine is leading the chart with 19 gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals. With two gold and one bronze medal, India has placed eighth on the medals table.
RPF LAUNCHES FOCUSED EFFORT UNDER “OPERATION SATARK” FROM 5TH APRIL TO 30TH APRIL
- Railway Protection Force (RPF) has recently started “Operation Satark”. Focused effort under “Operation Satark” was launched from 5th April to 30th April 2022 wherein 26 cases of transportation of illegal tobacco products were detected with seizure of tobacco products worth more than Rs 44 Lakhs and arrest of 14 persons involved.
- For taking action against illicit liquor, fake currency circulation, illegal tobacco products, unaccounted gold or cash orprecious items, and any other items being transported through railway network for the purpose of tax evasion or smuggling or commission of crime or acts of terror.
LAST SURVIVING F1 RACE WINNER FROM 1950S TONY BROOKS PASSES AWAY
- Tony Brooks, a British racing driver who won six Formula One Grand Prix in the 1950s and was nicknamed the “Racing Dentist”, has passed away. He was born in the United Kingdom in 1932. Tony retired from the sport at the age of just 29 after driving for four teams – BRM, Vanwall, Ferrari, and Cooper.
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