NATIONAL:
1. Dawki Land Port
Why in news - India inaugurates Dawki land port in Meghalaya-Bangladesh border to boost trade and tourism.
Key Points –
• The corresponding land port in Bangladesh is Tamabil in Sylhet district.
2. Air Force Heritage Centre
Why in news - Rajnath Singh inaugurated the country’s first Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh.
Key Points –
• It houses 5 vintage aircraft and will provide visitors with cockpit exposure and an experience with flight simulators.
• It also houses the first IAF-made patent aircraft Air Force ‘Kanpur-1 Vintage Prototype Aircraft’.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. 78th 'Victory Day'
Why in news - Russia commemorated its 'Victory Day' marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Key Points –
• Russian soldiers marched in Red Square in Moscow.
• Adolf Hitler had shot himself on April 30, 1945.
• On May 7, German troops surrendered, which was formally accepted the next day, and came into effect on May 9.
About World War II –
• World war II started on September 1, 1939 when German troops invaded Poland.
• It was fought between Allied and Axis powers.
• Axis Powers - Germany, Italy, Japan.
• Allied powers - Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. START Scheme
Why in news - ISRO has announced an online training program called Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START).
Key Points –
• For postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students of Physical Sciences and Technology.
• Application used - Jigyasa portal.
• Aim - to build human capacity for future Space Science and research.
• ISRO (August 15, 1969) Hq – Bengaluru.
Value Addition –
• Launch Vehicles - Built at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.
• Satellites - Designed and developed at U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru.
• Integration and launching of satellites and launch vehicles - Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
• Development of liquid stages including cryogenic stage - Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala (kerala) and LPSC Bengaluru.
• Sensors for Communication and Remote Sensing satellites - Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.
• Remote Sensing satellite data reception and dissemination - National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad.
ECONOMY:
1. RBI’s Gold Reserves
Why in news - Reserve Bank’s gold reserves rose 4.5% to 794.64 tonnes in 2022-23.
Key Points –
• RBI added 34.22 metric tonnes of gold in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2023.
• India’s total foreign exchange reserves on March 31, 2023 - $578.449 billion (gold reserves - $45.2 billion, 7.81%).
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 42nd ASEAN Summit
Why in news - The 42nd ASEAN summit and related meetings took place in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on 9-11 May, 2023.
Key Points –
• Theme - “ASEAN Affairs: Epicenter of Growth”.
• In 2022, East Timor was admitted "in principle" as the organization's 11th member, with full membership pending.
About ASEAN –
• Founded on - August 8, 1967 through Bangkok Declaration.
• 10-nation regional organisation.
• Founding members - Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines.
• Headquarters - Jakarta, Indonesia.
• The India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership was finalized in 2012.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Carol Shields Prize
Why in news - Fatimah Asghar has won the first-ever Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.
Key Points –
• For their debut novel When We Were Sisters.
• Published by - One World/Random House
• The prize for women and non-binary writers in Canada and the United States celebrates creativity and excellence in fiction.
2. Laureus Sports Award 2023
Why in news - Lionel Messi was named Sportsman of the Year by the Laureus World Sports Award in Paris.
Key Points –
• Messi was a joint winner alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
• Sportswoman of the Year - Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce (athletics).
• Team of the Year - Argentina (football).
• Action Sportsperson of the Year - Eileen Gu (freestyle skiing).
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on the 3rd day of the Jyeshtha month of Hindu calendar.
Key Points –
• In 2023, it would be celebrated on May 22.
About Maharana Pratap –
• Born - May 9, 1540 (Julian calendar).
• Hindu Rajput King who belonged to the Sisodiya clan of Rajputs.
• In the battle of Haldighati (June 18, 1576) he fought alongside Akbar.
SECURITY:
1. Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS)
Why in news - A new Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) under Project Sanjay is in the process of being deployed.
Key Points –
• Aim - to have surveillance centres for all field formations by December 2025.
• It would integrate thousands of sensors which would enable provision of an integrated surveillance picture.
• System integrator - Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), Ghaziabad.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book “Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hills”
Why in news - The book titled “Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hills” is written by Kasturi Ray.
Key Points –
• It tells the inspiring story of a tribal girl who overcame obstacles to become a symbol of resilience, determination, and perseverance.
POINTERS:
• Which country has recently adopted the “Basic Plan On Ocean Policy” – Japan.
• Who has become the fastest player to score 5000 runs in ODI cricket - Babar Azam.
• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has concluded the Myanmar Port sale for a total consideration of what amount - USD 30 million.
• How many Indian engineers will be trained by Japan for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project - 1000 Indian engineers.
• Which becomes first Indian airline to operate commercial, wide-body aircraft flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel – Vistara.
• Who has won the Formula 1(F1) Miami Grand Prix (GP) 2023 title - Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
• “My Life as a Comrade” is an autobiography of which personality - KK Shailaja.
• Who has been appointed as new Chief Secretary of Manipur - Vineet Joshi.
• Which became the first state to make digital health cards for children - Uttar Pradesh.
• India and which country have signed MoU on industrial research and development cooperation – Israel.