NATIONAL:
1. Shilpa Sailesh vs Varun Sreenivasan Case
Why in news - Supreme Court (SC) rules it can directly grant divorce to couples under Article 142.
Key Points –
• Article 142(1) - Plenary power to do “complete justice” by dissolving a marriage on the ground that it had broken down irretrievably, without referring to family court where they must wait 6-18 months.
• SC can waive the mandatory 6-month waiting period for divorce under The Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), 1955.
• Section 13B of the HMA - “divorce by mutual consent”.
• Amit Kumar vs Suman Beniwal (2021) - SC said where there is a chance of reconciliation, however slight, the cooling period of 6 months should be enforced.
About Article 142 –
• Supreme Court may pass such decree as is necessary for doing complete justice and shall be enforceable throughout the territory of India.
• Prem Chand Garg case (1962) - An order to do complete justice must be consistent with the fundamental rights and relevant statutory laws.
• A R Antulay case (1988) – 7 judge Bench upheld Prem Chand Garg.
• Bhopal gas tragedy case (Union Carbide Corporation vs UoI 1991) - Article 142(1), which confers power “at an entirely different level and of a different quality”.
2. 100th “Mann Ki Baat” Program
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi’s radio program “Mann Ki Baat” completed its 100th edition on April 30 (Sunday).
Key Points –
• PM Modi addresses the nation through this radio program on the last Sunday of every month.
• It was started on the occasion of Vijayadashami on October 3, 2014.
• It is broadcasted in 22 Indian languages, 29 dialects, and 11 international languages through multiple platforms.
3. Ranajit Guha Passed Away
Why in news – Noted historian Ranajit Guha has died due to old age-related ailments.
Key Points –
• His well-known – “Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India” (1983).
• He made key contribution to Subaltern Studies.
• The term “subaltern” was borrowed from the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci.
• Subaltern - Persons of “low rank” whose voices and actions were silenced by the domination of ruling groups.
• He was born on May 23, 1923 at Barisal in present-day Bangladesh.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Australian Grant for Projects in Kargil
Why in news – Australian High Commission in India has announced an Australian Government Grant for a Project in Kargil in Ladakh.
Key Points –
• Project Name - "Return to Roots".
• It aims to integrate traditional knowledge with the current school science curriculum to increase scientific engagement among school-aged children of tribal background.
• It takes as its inspiration Australia's National Indigenous Science Education Program.
• Australian high commissioner to India - Barry O'Farrell.
ECONOMY:
1. Market Borrowings
Why in news – As per RBI data, Tamil Nadu has emerged as the State with the highest market borrowings for the third year in a row.
Key Points –
• Tamil Nadu's gross market borrowing (April-February period of FY23) – Rs 68,000 crore.
• Other States with significant market borrowings - Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.
• Gross market borrowings by all States and UTs (April-February FY23) – Rs 7.1 lakh crore.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. 21st Press Freedom Index 2023
Why in news – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released the 21st edition of its World Press Freedom Index on May 3, 2023.
Key Points –
• India’s rank - 161st (score – 36.62) (2022 – 150th, slipped by 11 Ranks).
• Top 3 – Norway (1st), Ireland (2nd), Denmark (3rd).
• Last 3 - North Korea (180th), China (179th), Vietnam (178th).
• Environment for journalists – “very bad”.
• In the past 9 years, India's ranking has slipped by 21 ranks from 140 in 2014.
• Pakistan – 150th. Afghanistan – 152nd.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. HUDCO Award 2023
Why in news – Uttar Pradesh Swachh Virasat Abhiyan has been selected for the HUDCO award for 2022-2023.
Key Points –
• Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) has announced a cash award of ?1 lakh in the sanitation category
• It is given under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) for best practices to improve the living environment.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. 64th BRO Day
Why in news – 64th raising day of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) would be celebrated on May 7, 2023.
Key Points –
• It would organise “Ekta Evam Shradhanjali Abhiyan”, a multi-modal expedition.
• Expedition team comprises of Motor Cycles and Motor cars.
• Expedition members have collected Soil, Water and Saplings from 108 remote border locations to be planted at BRO Alma Mater, BRO School and Centre, Pune.
3. World Asthma Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed on the first Tuesday of May (2023 – May 2).
Key Points –
• Theme - ‘Asthma Care for All’.
• Started by - Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in 1998.
About Asthma –
• Inflammatory disease of the airways.
• It results in the tightening of the muscles around them causing breathlessness.
• Chronic respiratory disease with no permanent cure.
4. 30th World Press Freedom Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed on May 3 every year.
Key Points –
• Theme - "Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights".
• It was established in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book “Collective Spirit, Concrete Action”
Why in news – The book written by Shashi Shekhar Vempati was released ahead of the 100th episode of “Mann Ki Baat”.
Key Points –
• Shashi Shekhar Vempati is former CEO of Prasar Bharati (2017-2022).
• It documents various facets of PM Modi’s ongoing conversations with the people that resonate with the nation.
SPORTS:
1. 17th World Chess Championship
Why in news - Ding Liren became China's first male world chess champion after a victory over Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Key Points –
• Venue – Astana, Kazakhstan.
• China has dominated women's tournaments since the 1990s. Ju Wenjun is the reigning world champion.
• Wenzhou - China’s ‘chess city’.
BIHAR:
1. Identifying Landless
Why in news - Mobile application was launched for carrying out the survey to identify families from weaker sections in the state who are landless.
Key Points –
• It was launched by Bihar’s revenue and land reforms minister Alok Kumar Mehta.
• Survey to be conducted till June 2023
• Data would be used for providing land to selected beneficiaries to build pucca houses.
• The department has fixed the target of providing homestead land to the beneficiary families till December 2023.
• Each household would be given 5 decimals of land and they would be settled in clusters.
POINTERS:
• The Finance Ministry reported the GST collections for the month of April 2023 at what rupees - Rs 1.87 lakh crore.
• Which Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction and four-year sentence in a kidnapping and murder case by a court in Uttar Pradesh - Afzal Ansari.
• Who are two-member of Indian Olympic Association oversee the Wrestling Federation of India's office - Bhupender Singh Bajwa and Suma Shirur.
• Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon combined effectively to give India their first Gold medal in which game in Cairo, Egypt - Shotgun.
• Who has issued new rules for unwanted spam calls, messages - Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
• According to a report by WEF, how many jobs will end by 2027 - 83 million Jobs.
• Which two states commemorated their 63rd Foundation Day on 1st May, 2023 - Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• Sailor Abhilash Tomy created history by finishing at which position in the Golden Globe Race – 2nd.
• How many crore rupees military hardware was exported in India in 2022-23 – Rs 15920 crore.
• Sarbananda Sonowal launched the National Logistics Portal Sagar-Setu Application in which city - New Delhi.