NATIONAL:
1. ‘Neobank Open’ became the 100th Indian unicorn
Why in news – The company said that it was now valued at $1 billion making it the 100th unicorn in India.
Key Points –
• It was founded in 2017 by Anish Achuthan, Mabel Chacko and Ajeesh Achuthan.
• It is the 14th startup this year to achieve a billion-dollar valuation.
• A unicorn is any privately owned firm with a market capitalization of more than $1 billion.
• India has become 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world after US and China.
• Some of the successful Indian unicorns are Lenskart, Cred, Meesho, PharmEasy, Licious, Grofers etc.
2. Sardar Patel’s statue in Canada
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi hailed the unveiling of a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel - the first in North America - in Canada.
Key Points –
• This statue stands nine feet in height and weighs approximately 1000kg.
• The bronze statue was unveiled at a program at the Sanatan Mandir Cultural Center in the town of Markham in the Greater Toronto Area.
• The statue was made by Matu Ram Artwork Centres, an agency in Gurugram.
3. India’s first semiconductor fabrication unit
Why in news – The International Semiconductor Consortium (ISMC) announced its plan to set up India’s first semiconductor fabrication unit in Karnataka.
Key Points –
• ISMC would invest $3 billion in Mysuru’s Kochanahalli industrial area to set up a chip-making plant.
• ISMC is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit Ventures and Israel's Tower Semiconductor.
• Indian conglomerate Vedanta Ltd is in "advanced talks" with Gujarat and Maharashtra and has a planned investment outlay of $20 billion for its semiconductor and display push.
• India’s semiconductor market is forecast to grow to $63 billion by 2026 from $15 billion in 2020.
• Under the production-linked incentive scheme, the government will extend financial support of up to 50% of project cost for at least two semiconductor and two display fabs, for a minimum of six years.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Brazil’s largest Christ statue
Why in news – The small town of Encantado in southern Brazil has built Brazil’s tallest Christ (43 meters or 141 feet) to attract tourism.
Key Points –
• It is taller than Rio de Janeiro's famous ‘Christ the Redeemer’.
• The structure was designed by sculptor Genésio Gomes Moura and his son, Markus Moura.
• The new statue is named “Christ the Protector”
• This 43-meter-high statue comes third after Jesus Buntu Burake statue, Indonesia (52.55 meters) and Christ the King, Poland (52.5 Meters).
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book “Leaders, Politicians, Citizens: Fifty Figures Who Influenced India’s Politics”
Why in news – The book has been authored by author-journalist Rasheed Kidwai.
Key Points –
• It compiled stories of 50 personalities who influenced India’s political landscape.
• It includes Teji Bachchan, Phoolan Devi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Jayalalithaa etc.
• The book was published by Hachette India.
• The foreword of the book was written by Shashi Tharoor.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Press Freedom Day
Why in news – World Press Freedom Day is observed globally on 3rd May every year. It is also known as World Press Day.
Key Points –
• World Press Freedom Day 2022 theme - “Journalism under digital siege”.
• World Press Freedom Day global conference in a hybrid format held in Punta Del Este, Uruguay.
• In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly declared 3rd May as the world freedom press day.
• It came as a result of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration.
INDEX & RANKING:
1. World Press Freedom Index 2022
Why in news – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released the World Press Freedom Index.
Key Points –
• India's ranking in the index has fallen down to 150th position out of 180 countries (last year - 142nd).
• Pakistan - 157th, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Maynmar -176th position.
• Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
• Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd), Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions.
• North Korea remained at the bottom of the list.
• China climbed up by two positions to 175th position (Last year - 177th).
AGREEMENTS:
1. India and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on forest landscape restoration
Why in news – India signed a joint declaration with Germany to strengthen their partnership in areas like climate protection and conservation of biodiversity.
Key Points –
• It was signed during the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).
• JDI was signed virtually between India's Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav and Germany's Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Steffi Lemke.
• Under this initiative, Germany intends to provide up to 300 million Euros by the year 2025 for financial and technical cooperation for projects.
SPORTS:
1. IWF Junior World Championships
Why in news – Harshada Sharad Garud becomes the first Indian weightlifter to be crowned Junior World Champion.
Key Points –
• She won a gold medal at the IWF Junior World Championships.
• She lifted 153-kg in the 45-kg weight category.
• Turkey’s Bektas Cansu bagged the silver medal while Moldova’s Teodora-Luminita Hincu won the bronze medal.
• The event was held in Heraklion, Greece.
• Mirabai chanu and Jhilli Dalabehera won a bronze in the 2013 and 2018 editions. Achinta Sheuli won a silver medal last year.
2. Santosh Trophy 2022
Why in news – Kerala beat West Bengal on penalties to win Santosh trophy at home.
Key Points –
• Kerala beat Bengal 5-4 in the penalty shootout and won their seventh Santosh trophy title.
• The finals were held at the Manjeri Payyanad Football Stadium in Malappuram, Kerala.
• In the 75 editions held till 2022, West Bengal is the most successful side with 32 wins and 14 runners up finishes.
• In 1982-83, the trophy was shared by West Bengal and Goa after the match ended 0-0 in regulation time as well as extra time.
• Kerala coach - Bino George
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. International Research Conference on Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Why in news – The first two-day International Research Conference on Insolvency and Bankruptcy was organized in India.
Key Points –
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) jointly hosted an international research conference on insolvency and bankruptcy.
• It was held under the aegis of the Misra Centre of Financial Markets at IIM Ahmedabad.
• IBC 2016 is India’s bankruptcy law which seeks to consolidate the existing framework by creating a single law for insolvency and bankruptcy.
STATES/UTs:
1. Stadium to be built in Neeraj Chopra’s native village
Why in news – Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar announced that a stadium would be built in Olympic gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra’s native village in Panipat.
Key Points –
• Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s native village Khandra is in Panipat.
• Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Olympic track and field.
• Neeraj Chopra made history on August 7, 2021 by winning India's first-ever gold medal in athletics at the Tokyo Olympics.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Clean School Award
Why in news – Under ‘Bihar Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021’, Headmasters of 26 selected schools would be honoured in Patna.
Key Points –
• In the state level ranking of cleanliness, four government schools of Sheikhpura district have got five stars (highest rank).
• Along with the other 22 schools of the state, they have been selected for the Bihar Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021.
• These schools would get a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each.
• Not a single school from Patna and Nalanda has been selected for the cleanliness award.
• Out of the total 26, a maximum of six are in Purnia, three in Begusarai, one each in Bhojpur, Gopalganj, Kaimur, Khagaria, Madhubani, Rohtas and Nawada, two in Samastipur and four each in Sheikhpura and Sitamarhi.
• Seven criteria have been fixed for the school cleanliness award. These are cleanliness of drinking water, cleanliness of school premises, cleanliness of school toilets, cleaning of MDM, cleaning of kitchen and hand washing of children in school has been kept.
2. Shooting range for players would be built in Patna
Why in news – Arjuna Awardee cum MLA Shreyasi Singh laid the foundation stone for the construction of a shooting range at Naubatpur near Patna.
Key Points –
• Shooting range would be built in an area of about 100 meters long and 40 meters wide.
• Shreyasi Singh won a gold medal in the Shooting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia – Women's double trap.
• She also won a silver medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
3. Unemployment rate in Bihar
Why in news – For the first time since the peak of Corona, the unemployment rate in the state has been recorded above 20 percent.
Key Points –
• According to the latest report of the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy(CMIE), the unemployment rate in Bihar reached 21.1% in April 2022.
• At the national level, Bihar ranked 3rd in case of unemployment.
• Haryana tops the list with 34.5% unemployment. Rajasthan ranked 2nd at 28.8%.
• At national level, there has been a marginal decline in the unemployment rate (March 7.28% and April 7.8%).
POINTERS:
• Where was the National Kharif Conference 2022 held - New Delhi.
• With the help of India, in which country the first Children's Heart Hospital of the South Pacific was built – Fiji.
• Where was the National Level Workshop on "Innovative Agriculture" organized by NITI Aayog - New Delhi.
• Where was the world's longest (632 m) glass bridge built – Vietnam.
• Srijit Mukherji directed ‘Shabaash Mithu’ is a biopic film on which cricketer - Mithali Raj.
• Who became the first player in the history of IPL to score 1000 runs against two different teams - David Warner.
• Whose new species 'Golden Advanced' was developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Delhi – Paddy.
• Which became the first and only FMCG company in the country to do a business of more than one lakh crore rupees - Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
• Which country has become the third country in the world after the United States and Japan to have its own SBAS (Satellite Based Aaugmentation System) system – India.
• Which Space Agency's Perseverance Rover Captures Video of Solar Eclipse on Mars – NASA.
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