NATIONAL:
1. Defence Production
Why in news – The value of India's defense production has exceeded Rs one lakh crore (Rs 1,06,800 crore) in the financial year 2022-23.
Key Points –
• It marked a growth of over 12% compared to the previous year when the value of defence production was Rs 95,000 crore.
• India’s Target –
• Achieving a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing by 2024-25.
• Export target of USD 5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) worth of military hardware.
• Reforms undertaken –
• Import of a range of weapons
• Separate budget for buying locally made military hardware.
• Increasing FDI from 49% to 74% etc.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. PM Modi in 49th G7 Summit
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi met G7 leaders in Hiroshima, Japan.
Key Points –
• PM Modi is on a 3-nation tour to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
• In Papua New Guinea, he attended 3rd summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).
• He is the first ever Indian prime minister to visit Papua New Guinea.
• FIPIC - Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
• Invitees non-members in G7 2023 - Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam.
About G7 (1975) –
• Informal forum bringing together the leaders of the world’s leading industrial nations.
• Members - The United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
• Russia joined in 1998 but suspended in 2014.
• “Non-enumerated” member - European Union (EU) since 1981.
Value Addition –
• Hiroshima - World’s first city to be struck by a nuclear bomb on August 6, 1945. (Bomb name - Little Boy).
• 2nd and last city – Nagasaki, August 9, 1945, Bomb name - Fat Man.
• Hiroshima city is located at the southern tip of Japan’s main island Honshu.
• 50th G7 summit venue – Italy.
ECONOMY:
1. Dividend Payout
Why in news – The Reserve Bank approved Rs 87,416 crore dividend payout to the central government for 2022-23.
Key Points –
• It nearly triple of what it paid in the previous year (2021-22 - Rs 30,307 crore).
• RBI keep the Contingency Risk Buffer at 6%.
Value Addition –
• The Surplus Distribution Policy of RBI was finalized in line with the recommendations of the Bimal Jalan committee.
• Bimal Jalan committee (2018) - to review the current economic capital framework (ECF), after the M/o Finance asked RBI to follow global practices.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
Why in news – The Union government is looking to formally launch the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in 2023.
Key Points –
• It employs cutting-edge digital infrastructure to democratize digital commerce in India and make it more accessible and inclusive.
• Democratize by breaking down silos in digital commerce by enabling platforms of varying configurations (big or small).
• It is an interoperable network based on the BeckN protocol that anyone can piggyback on.
• Components (Network Participants) - Buyer Applications, Seller Applications, and Gateways.
• ONDC eliminates the need for buyers and sellers to use the same application, and promotes the discoverability of local digital stores across industries.
Value Addition –
• A not-for-profit company incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.
• Endorsed by - Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) (M/o Commerce and Industry).
DEFENCE:
1. Vagsheer Sea Trails
Why in news – Indian Navy’s 6th and final Kalvari class submarine “Vaghsheer” began sea trials.
Key Points –
• It is scheduled to be commissioned by early 2024.
• It is built under Project-75.
• Constructed at - Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
• 6 submarines - INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vagsheer, INS Vela, and INS Vagir.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Day for Biological Diversity 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on May 22.
Key Points –
• Aim – to highlight the importance of biodiversity and its crucial role in sustaining life on Earth.
• Theme: From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity.
Value Addition –
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) in 2022.
• United Nations (UN) Decade on Biodiversity - 2011-2020.
• UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development - 2021-2030.
• Biological Diversity –
(a) Wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms.
(b) Genetic differences within each species — for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock.
(c) Variety of ecosystems (lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes).
2. International Tea Day
Why in news – It is celebrated on May 21 every year.
Key Points –
• In December 2019 UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proposed by tea-producing countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam and Kenya.
• First International Tea Day was celebrated in New Delhi in 2005.
Value Addition -
• It was first discovered in China in 2737 BC.
• Britishers first introduced the tea crop commercially in India in 1824.
• Weather - Warm tropical and subtropical climate.
• Top producers - China (47%), India (20%), Kenya (8%).
• Top producers (India) - Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu.
BIHAR:
1. Foodgrain Production
Why in news – The 3rd estimate of foodgrain production for the year 2022-23 (kharif season) of the agriculture department was compiled recently.
Key Points –
• Wheat production - 63 lakh metric tonnes.
• Rice production - 76 lakh metric tonnes.
• Total foodgrain production - 180 lakh metric tonne.
• It is slightly lower than 2021-22 when the state had recorded 184 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains.
POINTERS:
• Who became the 83rd Grandmaster of India - Vuppala Praneeth.
• In which country Mahatma Gandhi scholarship has been given to 300 school children from all 25 districts - Sri Lanka
• In which city of Japan, Narendra Modi has unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi - Hiroshima.
• Which country has agreed to supply Advanced Fighter Jet to Ukraine - USA.
• The Indian Navy deployed which maritime patrol aircraft to help in the search and rescue of a Chinese fishing vessel with 39 crew members - P-8I.
• In which city of Uttar Pradesh “Nath Corridor” will be developed – Bareilly.
• To which city has Air Asia India successfully flown from Pune with indigenously made SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) - New Delhi.
• Recently, which state has announced that it will preserve more than 1 crore historical documents – Bihar.
• Recently, who has been appointed as the President of All India Marathi Natya Parishad - Prashant Damle.
• Which author was honored by PEN America with the Centenary Courage Award at their 2023 Literary Gala - Salman Rushdie.