NATIONAL:
1. Digital Science Park
Why in news - PM Modi laid foundation stone of Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Key Points –
• It is a multidisciplinary cluster-based interactive-innovation zone focused on digital technologies.
• Purpose - to support the development of products in the area of Industry 4.0 Technologies like AI, data analytics, cyber security, smart materials etc.
• He also flagged off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod.
2. NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the “NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute” located in Silvassa.
Key Points –
• Silvassa is the administrative headquarters of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
• In 2020, two union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single territory.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Washington Declaration
Why in news - US President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol on April 27 announced “Washington Declaration”.
Key Points –
• Once again, it underlined US support for South Korea.
• It boosted US nuclear umbrella over South Korea. The South does not have its own nuclear weapons.
• It provided for the regular deployment of a US nuclear submarine to South Korea which hasn't happened in South Korea since 1980s.
• South Korea pledged that it will not develop nuclear weapons of its own.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Revamped CGTMSE Scheme
Why in news - Narayan Rane launched the revamped CGTMSE Scheme in Mumbai.
Key Points –
Modified Provisions –
• Additional corpus support of Rs 9,000 crore to provide guarantee for additional Rs 2 lakh crore to Micro & Small Enterprises.
• Reduction in guarantee fees for loans upto Rs 1 crore by 50% bringing the minimum guarantee fee to the level of 0.37% per annum only.
• Raised ceiling for guarantee from Rs 2 crore to ? 5 crore.
• Enhanced the threshold limit for claim settlement without initiation of legal action to Rs 10 lakh.
About CGTMSE (2000) –
• Full form - Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises.
• Jointly set up by – Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
• Aim - to ensure the availability of collateral-free credit to the micro and small enterprise sector.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Global Education & Training Exhibition
Why in news - The “Study in India Pavilion” at the Global Education & Training Exhibition (GETEX) has been inaugurated in Dubai, UAE.
Key Points –
• Organized by - Services Export Promotion Council with the support of the Department of Commerce (Minister of Commerce & Industry).
• Venue - Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
Why in news – The 27 member states in the EU on April 25 approved a revamped EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
Key Points –
• EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is more commonly called the bloc’s carbon market.
• Part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” package of climate plans i.e., reducing carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with a 1990 benchmark.
• Also introduced Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which concerns products imported from outside the EU for carbon-intensive industries.
Provisions -
• The new rules increase the overall ambition of emissions reductions by 2030 in the sectors covered by the EU ETS to 62% compared to 2005 levels.
• The new rules increase the overall ambition of emissions reductions by 2030 in the sectors covered by the EU ETS to 62% compared to 2005 levels.
• Setting up of “Social Climate Fund” - Investments to support vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users and help them cope with the price impacts of an emissions trading system.
2. Kalesar National Park
Why in news – A tiger was caught on camera-trap at the Kalesar National Park in Haryana’s Yamunanagar district after 110 years.
Key Points –
• Last sighting of a tiger in Kalesar area – 1913.
About Kalesar NP (2003) –
• Yamuna River marks the Park's eastern border.
• Spread in 11, 570 acres in the Shivalik foothills.
SCIENCE–TECHNOLOGY:
1. Oxygen from Lunar Soil
Why in news – Scientists at NASA successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil.
Key Points –
• This may pave the way for astronauts to extract and use resources in a lunar environment called in-situ resource utilization.
• The test was conducted in “Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber”.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. “Solar Decathlon” Competition
Why in news – IIT Bombay’s SHUNYA team secured 2nd place in Solar Decathlon Build Challenge in the United States.
Key Points –
• Reason – Built innovative zero-energy house designed to address air quality challenges in Mumbai’s hot and humid climate.
• Project name – Vivaan.
• SHUNYA - Sustainable Housing for Urbanizing Nation by its Young Aspirants.
• SHUNYA is a student-driven technical team of IIT Bombay working to build a sustainable future.
• Winner - Ball State University.
• The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) “Solar Decathlon” contest is the longest-running student competition in the US.
2. Global Gold Award
Why in news – Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has been conferred the Global Gold Award by The Green Organization.
Key Points –
• Reason – recognition of POWERGRID’s CSR work for improving Agriculture Productivity and Rural Livelihood in 10 villages of Kalahandi District in Odisha.
• PGCIL is a Maharatna CPSU of Ministry of Power.
BIHAR:
1. Civil Service Day
Why in news – District Magistrate of Gaya Dr. Tyagaraja SM was honored with two awards by CM Nitish Kumar at Patna Convention Building.
Key Points –
• Award in field of Public Services –
(a) 1st – Patna (DM - Chandrasekhar Singh)
(b) 2nd – Samastipur (DM - Yogendra Singh)
(c) 3rd – Gopalganj (DM - Naval Kishore Yadav).
• Award in field of Grievance Redressal –
(a) Supaul (DM – Kaushal Kumar)
(b) Jamui (DM - Avnish Kumar Singh).
(c) Shivhar (DM - Ram Shankar).
• Award for better work in field of “Saat Nischay” Scheme –
(a) Siwan (DM - Mukul Kumar Gupta).
(b) Buxar (DM - Anshul Agarwal)
(c) Sheohar (DM - Ram Shankar).
• Award for better work in field of Jal Jeevan Hariyali Mission –
(a) Nalanda (DM - Shashank Shubhankar)
(b) Munger (DM - Naveen Kumar)
(c) Gaya (DM - Dr. Tyagarajan SM)
• Award for Innovation –
(a) Mayank Barbare (Additional Director General cum Commissioner, Magadh Division, BIPARD).
(b) Dr. Pratima S. Verma (Secretary, Commercial Tax Department)
(c) Lokesh Kumar Singh (Secretary, science and technology department) and Animesh Parashar (Commissioner of Patna Municipal Corporation).
• Shravan Shruti Project - Provide necessary examination of children suffering from hearing loss and deafness.
POINTERS:
• Which phenomenon has been associated with unusually warm periods in India, Bangladesh, China and some other Asian countries - 'Heat domes'.
• Who has been appointed as racial justice advisory board in New York City - Udai Tambar.
• Defence Secretary, Shri Giridhar Aramane inaugurated the state-of-the-art P8I simulator named “Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex” (ARTSC) on which ship - INS Rajali.
• Which noted Pakistani-Canadian journalist described himself as “Midnight's Child” - Tarek Fatah.
• Who is the pioneer of circus in the country who passed away at the age of 99 - Gemini Sankaran.
• The wreck of the Montevideo Maru, a Japanese passenger vessel sunk during the Second World War, has been located along the coast of which country - Philippines.
• Which company has helped form 78 farmer-producer companies (FPC) between November 2022 and February 2023 - ITC Limited.
• Which group of countries called for the “extension, full implementation and expansion” of the Black Sea grain deal - G7.
• Tamil Nadu Idol Wing police retrieved a rare bronze idol of Hanuman, stolen from a Chola-era temple in Ariyalur district from which country – Australia.
• Recently, which pottery from the state of Tamil Nadu earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag – Manamadurai pottery.