NATIONAL:
1. ASI’s excavation at the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi
Why in news - ASI’s excavation at Harappan site of Rakhigarhi reveals drainage system, copper and gold jewellery.
Key Points –
• The 5,000-years-old Harappan site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana’s Hisar district.
• The digging has been going on at three of the seven mounds.
• The site was first excavated by the ASI in 1998-2001.
• Mound No. 3, which has revealed “an aristocratic settlement”.
• Materials found - Drainage system, copper and gold jewellery, terracotta toys, earthen pots and seals, a (possible) jewelry-making unit, semi-precious stones such as agate and carnelian, street planning with a general width of 2.6m.
• The Rakhigarhi site is one of the "five iconic sites" declared by the Central government in the Union budget 2020-21. The other sites are Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh, Sivasagar in Assam, Dholavira in Gujarat and Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu.
• Ancient mounds 6 and 7 at Rakhigarhi in Hisar, Haryana, is among the 19 sites identified by the ASI that is going to be notified as “sites of national importance”.
• Sanjay Manjul is leading the excavation team.
Other Harappan sites –
|
SITE |
EXCAVATED BY |
LOCATION |
|
Harappa |
Daya Ram Sahini in 1921 |
Bank of river Ravi in Montgomery district of Punjab (Pakistan) |
|
Mohenjodaro |
R.D Banerjee in 1922 |
Bank of river Indus in Larkana district of Punjab (Pakistan). |
|
Sutkagendor |
Stein in 1929 |
Balochistan province, Pakistan on Dast river |
|
Chanhudaro |
N.G Majumdar in 1931 |
Sindh on the Indus river |
|
Amri |
N.G Majumdar in 1935 |
On the bank of Indus river |
|
Kalibangan |
Amlānand Ghosh in 1953 |
Rajasthan on the bank of Ghaggar river |
|
Lothal |
R.Rao in 1953 |
Gujarat on Bhogva river near Gulf of Cambay |
|
Surkotada |
J.P Joshi in 1964 |
Gujarat |
|
Banawali |
R.S Bisht in 1974 |
Hisar district of Haryana |
|
Dholavira |
R.S Bisht in 1985 |
Gujarat in Rann of Kachchh |
2. Martand Sun Temple
Why in news - J&K LG Manoj Sinha joins pooja at ruins of ASI-protected temple.
Key Points –
• The Martand Sun Temple also known as Pandou Laidan is a Hindu temple dedicated to Surya (The Sun god).
• Martand is another name for the Sun God in Sanskrit.
• It was built by the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century CE.
• It was destroyed during the rule of Sikandar Shah Miri between 1389 and 1413.
• It had blended the Gandharan, Gupta and Chinese forms of architecture.
• The Archaeological Survey of India has declared the Martand Sun Temple as a site of national importance in Jammu and Kashmir.
3. ‘World’s Largest’ Film Restoration Project
Why in news - Anurag Thakur said that an amount of Rs 363 crore has been allotted for the world’s largest film restoration project under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM).
Key Points –
• The process of restoring over 5900 short films, documentaries and features is underway.
• This exercise is carried out by the National Film Archive of India.
• The NFHM was launched in 2016 with an outlay of 597 crore rupees to preserve, restore and digitize the cinematic heritage.
• The history of Indian cinema goes back to 18th May 1912 when Shree Pundalik – a silent film directed by Dadasaheb Torne, in Marathi was released.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Monkeypox virus case confirmed in U.K.
Why in news - Health authorities in the United Kingdom have confirmed a case of Monkeypox in an individual who recently travelled to that country from Nigeria.
Key Points –
• The Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus, which is a genus of viruses that also includes the variola virus, which causes smallpox.
• Monkeypox causes symptoms similar to smallpox.
• Vaccination eradicated smallpox worldwide in 1980 but monkeypox continues to occur in a swathe of countries in Central and West Africa.
• Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease. It has been detected in squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, and some species of monkeys.
• The infection was first discovered in 1958.
• The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
ECONOMY:
1. Adani Wilmar became India’s largest FMCG company
Why in news - Adani Wilmar Ltd (AWL) has surpassed Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) to become the largest FMCG company in India.
Key Points –
• At Rs 54,214 crore AWL's sales pipped HUL's Rs 51,468 crore in FY22.
• The company is well on its way to implement its "go-to-market strategy focused to capture the rural growth story."
• However, AWL's profit margins remained lower than the FMCG industry average.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1.26th summit of Mt Everest
Why in news - A 52-year-old Nepali Sherpa has climbed Mount Everest for the 26th time, beating his own record for the most number of times to scale the world’s highest peak.
Key Points –
• Kami Rita and his group of 11 Sherpa guides summitted the 8,848.86-metre peak at 6.55 pm (local time).
• The group used the southeast ridge route which was pioneered by New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
• Rita scaled Mt Everest for the first time on May 13, 1994.
• Besides Mt Everest, Rita has also scaled Mt Godwin-Austen (K2), Mt Lhotse, Mt Manaslu and Mt Cho Oyu.
• He also holds the record for most climbs over 8000 metres.
• Till date, Everest has been climbed 10,657 times.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Mother's Day 2022
Why in news - Mother’s Day is observed on the second Sunday of May every year. This year, it falls on May 8.
Key Points –
• The first Mother’s day was celebrated by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia in the year 1908.
• The Mother’s Day officially came into existence in 1914 after former US President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday of May as a national holiday.
• The first Mother’s Day ‘service of worship’ was given at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, by Anna Jarvis.
2. World Thalassemia Day 2022
Why in news - The International Thalassaemia Day is marked annually on May 8 devoted to raising awareness about Thalassemia.
Key Points –
• Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder passed down to a child from either one of the parents or both.
• The body of a person suffering from thalassemia makes less haemoglobin than that of a normal person.
• World Thalassemia Day came into existence in 1994 on recommendation of the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF).
• Theme for 2022 - “Be Aware, Share, Care: Working with the global community as one to improve thalassaemia knowledge’’.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Enterprise India National Coir Conclave 2022
Why in news - Union Minister for MSME Shri Narayan Rane inaugurated the ‘Enterprise India National Coir Conclave 2022’ at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Key Points –
• Coir industry provides employment to more than 7 lakh people in the rural areas of the coconut growing states.
• A ‘Run for Coir’ was also organized on 6th may, 2022 to promote the use of coir.
• Coir Board was set up under the Coir Industry Act, 1953.
• Coir Udyami Yojana is a credit-linked subsidy scheme for setting up coir units with project costs up to Rs.10 lakhs.
• The headquarters of the Board is located at Coir House, Kochi, Kerala.
2. ‘JITO Connect 2022’
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of Jain International Trade Organisation’s ‘JITO Connect 2022’ via video conferencing.
Key Points –
• Theme of the summit - ‘Together Towards Tomorrow’.
• The Prime Minister gave new dimension to the word EARTH.
A. E means environment
B. A means agriculture and natural farming
C. R means recycling and focusing on the circular economy
D. T means technology for all
E. H means health care
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book 'INDO-PAK WAR 1971- Reminiscences of Air Warriors'.
Why in news - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has released a book titled ‘INDO-PAK WAR 1971- Reminiscences of Air Warriors’ at the 37th Air Chief Marshal PC Lal Memorial at New Delhi.
Key Points –
• The book comprises 50 articles penned by the veterans who have shared their experiences in detail.
• The book was edited by Air Marshal Jagjeet Singh and Group Captain Shailendra Mohan.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. John Lee
Why in news - John Lee was elected as Hong Kong’s next leader by an election committee comprised of nearly 1,500 largely pro-Beijing members. Lee received 1,416 votes in the chief executive election, far exceeding the 751 votes needed to win.
STATES/UTs:
1. Haryana’s ‘e-Adhigam’ Scheme
Why in news - Haryana government launched “e-Adhigam” scheme under which nearly three lakh tablets were distributed to government school students of Classes 10 and 12.
Key Points –
• These devices come with pre-loaded content along with Personalised and Adaptive Learning (PAL) software and 2GB of free data.
• The country has set a target to implement the New Education Policy by 2030 but Haryana’s target is 2025.
2. Kerala’s ‘Shaili App’
Why in news - The Kerala government to launch ‘Shaili App’ aimed at diagnosing and controlling lifestyle diseases.
Key Points –
• It would be launched under the ‘Nava Kerala Karma plan’.
• The app would collect information about diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung diseases as well as other lifestyle-related ailments and cancers.
3. “Delhi Startup Policy"
Why in news - Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that the cabinet passed an ambitious Delhi Startup Policy that would help turn the capital into an international startup hub.
Key Points –
• The vision is to enable Delhi to emerge as a “Global Innovation Hub and the most preferred destination for Startups by 2030”.
• The government intends to “encourage, facilitate and support” 15,000 startups by 2030.
• Students building startups while studying in Delhi government colleges will be able to seek 1-2 years of leave.
• The government will form a monitoring committee to oversee the startup policy. This committee will be headed by Delhi’s Finance Minister.
BIHAR:
1. Swimming will be taught to people living nearby to the river.
Why in news - Swimming will be taught to the people of villages within a radius of five kilometers from the rivers of the state. The government will run a special campaign for this.
Key Points –
• According to the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority report, it was found that in the last four years, 1140 people have died due to drowning in only 18 districts of the state.
• This campaign will be run exclusively in those 18 districts of the state.
• 18 districts are - East Champaran, Saran, Jehanabad, Khagaria, Patna, Arwal, Munger, Samastipur, Rohtas, Sheohar, Begusarai, Madhepura, Lakhisarai, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Nalanda, Gaya and Kishanganj.
2. Plug and Play Center
Why in news – 200 Plug and Play centers will be started in Bihar in three months.
Key Points –
• Under the plug and play model, the workplace is made available for rent to the entrepreneurs by making sheds or making all kinds of arrangements in a big hall for setting up industries. Here the entrepreneurs just have to install their equipment and start work.
• Priority will be given to readymade garments and the IT sector.
• Places have been identified to start Plug and Play centers in Bhagalpur and Champaran.
3. Bihar to provide special facility for organic farming
Why in news – BSSOCA (Bihar State Seed and Organic Certification Agency) will now take online applications for certification of crops related to organic and traditional farming.
Key Points –
• Earlier, farmers of Bihar had to get organic certification from Sikkim.
• Now, the certifying agency's jurisdiction located in Mithapur, Patna extends to Bihar, Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Assam and Rajasthan.
• BSSOCA performs testing of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) in the DNA Finger Printing laboratory.
POINTERS:
• What has been the export of India's service sector in the financial year 2021-22 - $ 254.4 billion.
• Who has been appointed as the new CEO of Flipkart Health Plus - Prashant Jhaveri.
• With which country signed agreement to set up Hydrogen Task Force in India – Germany.
• Who was appointed as the chairman of the Board of Directors of InterGlobe Aviation = Venkataramani Sumantran.
• In which country the 19th Asian Games to be held on 10-25 September has been postponed – China.
• Which Indian was included in Top-50 IT Leaders of the Year - Nikhil Deshpande.
• Which country's medical inflation is highest among Asian countries in the year 2021 – India.
• RailTel in collaboration with WHO inaugurated Mobile Container Hospital in which city – Visakhapatnam.
• Which state has tied up with Flipkart to create a pool of supply chain operators - West Bengal.
• Which organization has imposed a 2-year ban on journalist Boria Majumdar in the Wriddhiman Saha case - BCCI.