NATIONAL:
1. Jammu and Kashmir delimitation commission panel signs final order
Why in news - The panel was tasked to redraw the boundaries of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir and concluded the delimitation exercise.
Key Points –
• The panel was formed by the Centre on 6th March 2020.
• The panel was headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai and comprises Sushil Chandra (CEC) and Chander Bhushan Kumar, KK Sharma (SEC) and Hridesh Kumar.
• The panel has proposed increasing the number of seats in J&K from 83 to 90. Besides, there are 24 seats in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• The commission recommended seven additional constituencies — six for Jammu and one for Kashmir.
• The number of seats in the Jammu division increased to 43 from 37 seats earlier and that in the Kashmir Valley to 47 from 46 earlier.
• For the first time, reservation of 9 Assembly seats for Scheduled Tribes – six in Jammu and three in Kashmir announced.
• It also recommended reserving two seats for ‘Kashmiri Migrants (essentially Pandits)’
• The Commission also worked with five Lok Sabha MPs from J&K. They are - Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma.
• Jammu with 44% population will get a 48 % share in seats, while Kashmir with 56% of the population will get only 52%share in seats.
About Delimitation:
• Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• The first delimitation exercise was carried out in 1950-51.
• The Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.
• Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002.
• There was no delimitation after the 1981 and 1991 Censuses.
2. WHO estimates 4.7 million COVID-19-linked deaths in India
Why in news – According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), there were likely 47 lakh deaths, directly or indirectly attributable to COVID¬19, in India in 2020 and 2021.
Key Points –
• These are the highest for any country and make up nearly a third of the 15 million (1.5 crores) such deaths estimated by the agency globally.
• The figure is nearly ten times the country’s official Covid death toll of 4.81 lakh at the end of 2021.
• The high-income countries account for 15% of these deaths, upper-middle-income countries 28%, lower-middle-income countries 53% and low-income countries 4%.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. The U.K. and Japan defence agreement
Why in news – Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the U.K. resulted in a new security deal with the UK.
Key Points –
• The deal would allow the armed forces of the two countries to deploy together for training, joint exercises and disaster relief.
• In 2020, Japan signed a military logistics agreement with India which allows the two countries to exchange supplies and services within each other’s military bases and ports.
• In January 2022, Japan and Australia signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).
• The UK is the first European country to have such an agreement with Japan.
• UK and Japan are also collaborating on defence and security technology such as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
• Japan has a dispute with Russia over the Kuril islands and with China over the Senkaku islands.
AWARDS AND HONOURS:
1. Exchange4media News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA)
Why in news – Doordarshan has won ENBA Award 2021 for its TV series based on pet care namely ‘Best Friend Forever’ under the 14th edition of ENBA Awards.
Key Points –
• The pet show ‘Best Friends Forever’ explains how pets not only take the modern-day stress away but are also life-savers.
• Doordarshan's TV series has been selected as the best in-depth Hindi series.
2. India to be “Country of Honour” at Marche’ Du Film.
Why in news – India will be the official country of honour at the upcoming Marche’ Du Film, organised alongside the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, in France.
Key Points –
• It is the first time the Marché du Film has an official Country of Honour.
• India will be the “focus country”.
• At Cannes Film Festival, there will also be the world premier of “Rocketry” produced by R Madhavan.
REPORTS:
1. State of the World’s Forests 2022
Why in news – State of the World’s Forests 2022 (SOFO 2022) has been released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Key Points –
• The 2022 edition of SOFO explores the potential of three forest pathways for achieving green recovery –
A. Halting deforestation and maintaining forests
B. Restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry
C. Sustainably using forests and building green value chains
• The 420 million hectares (mha) of forests have been lost between 1990 and 2020.
• Forests cover 4.06 billion ha of the earth’s geographical area.
• At the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, 140 countries pledged to eliminate forest loss by 2030.
About FAQ –
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
• World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16th October to mark the anniversary of the founding of the FAO in 1945.
• FAO Hq - Rome, Italy.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Arvind Krishna
Why in news – IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He has been elected as a Class B director for a three-year term ending December 31, 2023.
SPORTS:
1. Deaflympics 2022
Why in news – Dhanush Srikanth struck gold in the men’s 10m air rifle competition.
Key Points –
• Shourya Saini has won the bronze in the men’s 10m air rifle competition.
• Dhanush shot 247.5, a finals world record score to emerge triumphant while Shourya finished third with 224.3.
• The 24th Deaflympics is being held at Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
2. World Snooker Championship Title 2022
Why in news – Ronnie O’Sullivan (England) has won the 2022 World Snooker Championship by defeating Judd Trump (England) 18-13 in the finals.
Key Points –
• The event was held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
• O'Sullivan's victory makes him the oldest world champion eclipsing Ray Reardon, who won his sixth title aged 45 in 1978.
• It was Ronnie O’Sullivan’s seventh World Snooker Championship title, previously being 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2020.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Hand Hygiene Day 2022
Why in news – World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) is annually observed across the globe on the 5th of May.
Key Points –
• Theme for 2022 – Unite for safety: clean your hands.
• WHO started a global campaign called “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands” in 2009. Now, this campaign is celebrated annually as World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5.
PLACES IN NEWS:
1. Mariupol
Why in news – Russia fights for control of Ukraine’s Mariupol stronghold.
Key Points –
• Mariupol, formerly Zhdanov, is in southeastern Ukraine.
• It lies along the estuary of the Kalmius and Kalchik rivers, 6 miles (10 km) from the Sea of Azov.
• It Is the tenth-largest city in Ukraine.
• Since February 2022, the city has been besieged and severely damaged as part of the Russian invasion, in which it received the title of Hero City of Ukraine.
• Azovstal steel plant is one of the largest metal plants in Europe located in Mariupol.
BIHAR:
1. 50% of classes would be online in schools and colleges in Bihar
Why in news – The education department would prepare a special mechanism to ensure that higher education should not be derailed amid rising corona cases.
Key Points –
• 50% of classes would be online in all the universities and colleges of the state.
• Lectures of the best professors from all the colleges in the state would be provided to the students of other colleges.
• Wi-Fi facility has been provided in all the universities of the state. Special infrastructure for conducting online and digital classes in colleges will also be provided.
2. India became aware of Bihar’s HIT app
Why in news – Bihar health minister made people aware of the HIT app at 'Health Summit' at Gujarat's Kevadia.
Key Points –
• Home Isolation Tracking (HIT) app was developed by the Bihar government to reach out to coronavirus patients undergoing treatment for the deadly disease in home isolation.
• Health workers at the grass-root level visit patients in home isolation to record their temperature and oxygen level on a daily basis.
• The HIT App has been developed by the Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation (BELTRON).
• In the pilot project, it was initially launched in Supaul, Gopalganj, Aurangabad, Nalanda and Bhagalpur.
3. National Rugby Championship in Patna
Why in news – The National Rugby Championship will be held in Patna from next month.
Key Points –
• The competition will be held in Patliputra Sports Complex, Kankarbagh from 9 to 12 in June.
• The Senior National Championship Rugby, Junior National Championship and National Championship of Wheel Chair Rugby will also be held in Patna.
• The Department of Art, Culture and Youth has sanctioned Rs 35 lakh for organizing the national tournament of rugby and organizing a camp for the practice of the Bihar team.
• The camp will be organized by the Rugby Federation of Bihar under the supervision of the Bihar State Sports Development Authority.
4. IIT Patna will help make Polytechnic a Center of Excellence
Why in news – IIT Patna Director Prof. TN Singh said that the Center of Excellence is to be set up in Polytechnic Colleges across the State.
Key Points –
• This program is part of the Saat Nischay Yojana Part II of the Government of Bihar.
• In these polytechnic colleges, 11 colleges are to be developed as hubs and 33 colleges as spokes.
• Special focus areas will be AI & IoT, Robotics, Drone Technology, 3D Printing, Electric Vehicles, Industrial Automation/Industry 4.0 etc.
POINTERS:
• Who has recently won the Miami Open tennis title 2022? – Inga Svityek.
• Who has won the 35th Spanish league title - Real Madrid.
• Who has been recently appointed by InterGlobe Aviation as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors - Venkataramani Sumantran.
• How many MW solar power project has been commissioned by Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited in Mesanka, Gujarat - 120 Mega Watts.
• Bharti Airtel has bought 7% equity in Cnergee Technologies under which program - Startup Accelerator Program.
• Who has been announced as its brand ambassador by Ayurvedic personal care brand Medimix - Katrina Kaif.
• Which company has launched M15 petrol with 15% blend of methanol with petrol - Indian Oil Corporation.
• With which country India has signed a triangular development cooperation agreement - Germany.
• Who was appointed as the new advisor to PM Modi - Tarun Kapoor.
• In which country 5x5 Pro Basketball League will be started in 2022 – India.''