NATIONAL:
1.Two new Supreme Court judges appointed
Why in news - Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala were sworn in as the judges of the Supreme Court.
Key Points –
• The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
• The fresh appointments have brought the functioning strength back to 34.
• Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana administered the oath of office to them.
• Justice Dhulia was Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court and Justice Pardiwala was a judge in the Gujarat High Court.
• The Supreme Court collegium is headed by the CJI and comprises four other senior-most judges of the court.
• Article 124(2) of the Indian Constitution provides that the Judges of the Supreme Court are to be appointed by the President of India.
• Article 217 of the Indian Constitution states that the Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President of India.
2. Rajasthan becomes the first state to surpass 10 GW solar capacity
Why in news - According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, Rajasthan became the first state in India to reach 10 GW of cumulative large-scale solar installations.
Key Points –
• Rajasthan has a total installed power capacity of 32.5 GW with renewables accounting for 55%, thermal energy for 43% and nuclear energy for 2%.
• Solar energy accounts for roughly 36% of total capacity and 64% of renewables.
• Rajasthan has about 16 GW of solar projects under development.
• Rajasthan’s Solar Energy Policy 2019 aims to achieve a 30 GW solar power target by FY 2024-25.
• THDC India has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited to build 10 GW of solar power plants in a 74:36 joint venture.
3. IRCTC’s Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
Why in news - IRCTC’s Bharat Gaurav tourist train will include a stop at Ram Janaki temple at Janakpur Nepal.
Key Points –
• Bharat Gaurav tourist train will start on June 21, 2022.
• It will take passengers across pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Ram across the country in a Ramayana circuit identified under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
• It will undertake 17 Nights/18 Days of pilgrimage journey.
• The Bharat Gaurav tourist train is the Government of India’s initiative of Dekho Apna Desh.
• Sites included - Ayodhya, Buxar, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Kashi, Prayag, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi, Rameshwaram, Kanchipuram, Bhadrachalam (Telengana), Delhi.
4. India's Largest Lithium-ion Battery Plant Starts Production in Gujarat
Why in news – Nexcharge has started mass production of lithium-ion battery packs at India’s largest lithium-ion battery plant at Prantij, Gujarat.
Key Points –
• Nexcharge is a joint venture between India's Exide Industries Limited and Switzerland's Leclanché SA.
• The plant has a total installed capacity of 1.5 Gigawatt hours (GWh).
• It has six automated assembly lines.
• Nexcharge has so far invested 2.5 billion rupees ($33 million) in building and setting up the plant.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned
Why in news - Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down on 9th May 2022 to enable President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to go for a national unity government.
Key Points –
• On 12 April 2022, Sri Lanka announced that it had defaulted on its external debt of $51 billion.
• Hambantota and Colombo Port City, both have been given 99 years of lease to China.
• China is now the second-largest lender to Sri Lanka. By 2019, it was holding more than 10% of Sri Lanka’s outstanding foreign debt.
• India has extended two credit lines worth over $2 billion to help buy food, medicines and other essentials.
2. Victory Day Parade:
Why in news - Every year Russia celebrates “Victory Day” on May 9 to commemorate the USSR’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Key Points –
• The Russian military holds a parade at Moscow’s Red Square to mark the event.
• Over eight million (80 lakh) Russian soldiers are estimated to have died during World War II.
• The erstwhile Soviet Union first celebrated Victory Day on May 9, 1945, after Germany signed the Instrument of Surrender.
• The Allied powers (France, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union) celebrate May 8 as ‘Victory in Europe’ Day.
• In 1965, USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev made May 9 a national holiday.
3. Discounted Internet Service for the poor in USA
Why in news – US President Joe Biden announced that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted services to people with low incomes.
Key Points –
• $14.2 billion have been earmarked for the Affordable Connectivity Program which provides $30 monthly subsidies on internet service.
• With this, 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second or higher speed.
ECONOMY:
1. Reliance becomes the first Indian company to cross USD 100 billion annual revenue
Why in news - Reliance Industries Ltd reported a 22.5% rise in net profit for the quarter ended March.
Key Points –
• The oil-to-retail-to-telecom conglomerate's consolidated net profit rose to ₹ 16,203 crores in the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
• For the full fiscal 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022), Reliance reported a net profit of ₹60,705 crores on a revenue of ₹7.92 lakh crore (USD 102 billion).
UNION GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Ministry revises MPLADS rules
Why in news - The Union Finance Ministry has ordered revised rules under which the interest that the MPLADS fund accrues would be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India.
About MPLADS scheme –
• MPLAD is a Central Sector Scheme that was announced in December 1993.
• It works under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Each year, MPs receive Rs. 5 crores in two installments of Rs. 2.5 crore each.
• Funds under MPLADS are non-lapsable.
• The MPLADS fund is released to the district authority and the MPs only have power to recommend development work.
• Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
AGREEMENTS:
1. Railway Protection Force (RPF) signs MoU with Association for Voluntary Action (AVA)
Why in news - RPF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AVA for a trafficking free India.
Key Points –
• AVA is also known as Bachpan Bachao Andolan.
• AVA is associated with the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF).
• “Operation AAHT” aims to take stringent action against human trafficking through rail.
2. SECI signs MoU with MHA
Why in news - Solar Energy Corporation of India has signed an MoU with the Home Ministry to harness solar energy on the available rooftop areas on the campuses of the Central Armed Police Forces and National Security Guard.
Key Points –
• The campuses of CAPF and NSG have an estimated total solar power potential of 71.68 MW.
• The MoU envisages collaboration for joint installation of Solar Rooftop PV Power Plants.
REPORT & INDEX:
1. Chainalysis Report
Why in news - According to the data released by crypto analytics firm Chainalysis, investors around the world realized total Crypto gains of $162.7 billion in 2021 compared to $32.5 billion in 2020.
Key Points –
• Ethereum edged out Bitcoin in total realized gains globally at $76.3 billion to $74.7 billion.
• The United States led by a wide margin at an estimated $47 billion in realized cryptocurrency gains followed by the UK, Germany, Japan, and China.
• India ranked a lowly 21st with realized gains of around $1.85 billion.
• Japan received a much higher share of realized gains from Bitcoin.
• China’s witnessed a growth of 194% in comparison to 2020.
SPORTS:
1. Khelo India Youth Games 2022
Why in news - Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur launched the mascot ‘Dhakad’ (Cow) along with the official logo and official jersey of the 4th Khelo India Youth Games on 7th May 2022.
Key Points –
• The 4th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games would be held from June 4 to June 13 at Panchkula, Shahbad, Ambala and Chandigarh in Haryana and Delhi.
• Five traditional games like gatka, thang-ta, kalarippayattu, mallakhamb and yogasana are included in Khelo India Youth Games 2022.
• The games will be held in 25 sports disciplines and 8500 players will participate.
• The first edition of the khelo India youth Games was inaugurated on 31 January 2018 by Prime minister Narendra Modi.
2. Deaflympics 2022
Why in news - Abhinav Deshwal has won the second gold medal for India in shooting at the ongoing 24th Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. He was tied with silver winning Ukrainian Oleksii Lazebnyk before winning gold in a shoot-off.
3. Sunway Formentera Open Chess Tournament
Why in news - Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh emerged champion in the 1st Chessable Sunway Formentera Open 2022 chess tournament.
Key Points –
• It was a hat-trick of titles for him. He had previously won the La Roda tournament and the Menorca Open.
• He settled for a draw with Armenian GM Haik M Martirosyan in the final round to win the title with eight points.
• He had defeated compatriot K Sasikiran in the ninth and penultimate round.
• He has now moved up to no.64 in the world rankings.
• The tournament was held in Punta Prima, Spain.
SECURITY:
1. ICG Commissions 2nd Air Squadron ‘845 Squadron’
Why in news – On May 4, 2022, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned ICG’s second Air Squadron 845 Squadron at Nedumbassery in Kochi, Kerala.
Key Points –
• The Squadron was equipped with Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter Mark III helicopters.
• The Squadron would be led by Commandant Kunal Naik.
• Dhruv ALH Mark-III is designed and developed by Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
STATES/UTs:
1.Madhya Pradesh Ladli Laxmi Yojana 2.0
Why in news – MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Ladli Laxmi Yojana-2.0 at Lal Parade Ground on 8th May 2022.
Key Points –
• It is an initiative to encourage daughters to pursue higher education and make them self-dependent.
• On taking admission to the college, 25000 rupees will be given to girls by the government in two installments.
• The government will pay the full fee required for taking admission to a private medical college, IIT or IIM.
• The birth rate of girl child in the state has also increased from 927 to 956 per thousand.
• On this occasion, Hon CM released Ladli Laxmi Book and introduced Ladli e-Samvad App.
• The scheme was launched in 2007.
BIHAR:
1. BPSC Question Paper Leak
Why in news – The cyber cell of Bihar Police has started a probe into the “leakage” of a set of question papers of the 67th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination conducted by the BPSC.
Key Points –
• A 14-member team has been set up under the superintendent of police (cyber cell) Sushil Kumar to probe the matter.
• As per Public Exam Act, no mobile phones are allowed within a radius of 200 metres from the centres.
• The exam centres are now required to have jammers to restrict the photographic e-transmission of papers.
2. New system for Revenue and Land Reforms Department
Why in news – Odd-even will be used for acceptance and rejection in Bihar. The Revenue and Land Reforms Department is implementing a new system for this.
Key Points –
• This system will be applicable in those areas where both the Circle Officer and the Revenue Officer are appointed.
• In the case of odd-numbered ‘Halka’ (revenue employee's work area), the Circle officer and even-numbered ‘Halka’ would be disposed of by the Revenue officer.
• ‘Halka’ is the smallest administrative unit (area) in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department. One or more villages were combined to form a Halka.
3. Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD)
Why in news – Every road accident in Bihar is being monitored by the team of the Transport and Road Construction Department.
Key Points –
• Till April this year, 2065 road accidents have been entered on this app.
• This app has been created by the Ministry of Road Transportation and Highways in collaboration with the National Informatics Center (NIC).
• Its objective is to reduce road accidents, identify black spots and address the causes of accidents.
• For this, along with the police, the Transport Department, Road Construction Department and Health Department were also linked to it.
4. Rs 826 crores from Covid Emergency Response Fund released in Bihar
Why in news – The Health Department has released Rs 826 crore to the State Health Society under the Covid Emergency Response Fund Preparedness Package-2.
Key Points –
• Of this, Rs 516 crore is central share and Rs 344 crore is state share.
• Under the National Health Mission, the Central Government has sanctioned about Rs 15000 crore for different states of the country under the Covid Emergency Response Fund Preparedness Package-2.
• Out of Rs 15000 crore, Bihar will get Rs 1350 crore. The state has so far received about Rs 860 crore out of the sanctioned amount.
5. ATC tower to be built at Patna Airport
Why in news – Given the increasing number of passengers, renovation work is going on at Patna Airport. A 25-meter-high Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower is to be built at the airport.
Key Points –
• Its construction would cost around Rs 23 crore.
• With the help of state-of-the-art equipment and radar installed in the tower, flights can be controlled from 500 km away.
• Patna Airport is one of the 12 busiest airports in the country.
POINTERS:
• Which university organized Utkarsh Mahotsav 2022 to promote the Sanskrit language - Central Sanskrit University.
• In which IIT did Pfizer inaugurate the Global Drug Development Center - IIT Madras.
• In which company L&T Infotech company was merged – Mindtree.
• Where was the "Boao Forum for Asia-BFA" annual conference 2022 held – China.
• Where did the 12th Hockey India Senior Women's National Championship start – Bhopal.
• In which city Union Minister Smriti Irani has launched ‘Stree Manoraksha Project’- Hyderabad.
• In which city has the 4th edition of India Boat and Marine Show concluded recently – Cochin.
• Recently who has become the first Pakistani female singer to win Grammy Award – Arooj Aftab.
• Which athlete has been provisionally suspended at the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for a banned drug - Kamalpreet Kaur.
• When is World Red Cross Day celebrated every year around the world – May 8.