NATIONAL:
1. Lokpal to have Permanent Office
Why in news - The Lokpal of India allocated an office at World Trade Centre in south Delhi’s Nauroji Nagar.
Key Points –
• Lokpal works under Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
• On March 19, 2019, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh was appointed as India’s first Lokpal.
• The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States.
• They perform the function of an "ombudsman” .
• The term Lokpal and Lokayukta were coined by Dr. L. M. Singhvi.
• Jurisdiction of Lokpal includes Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament, Groups A, B, C and D officers and officials of Central Government.
• Maharashtra was the first state to introduce the institution of Lokayukta through the Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act in 1971.
• Odisha became the first state to pass Lokayukta Act after Centre's Lokpal Act 2013.
2. PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY complete seven years
Why in news - Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) on 9th May complete seven years of providing social security net.
Key Points –
• They were launched by PM Narendra Modi on 9th May 2015 in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• PMSBY - It is a one-year accidental insurance scheme (cover of Rs.2 lakh), Eligibility - age group of 18-70 years.
• PMJJBY - One-year life insurance (Rs. 2 Lakh for death due to any reason), Eligibility - age group of 18-50 years.
• APY - Guaranteed monthly pension of Rs. 1000 to Rs 5000 at the age of 60 years, Eligibility - age group of 18 to 40 years, administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
3. Ethanol Blending
Why in news - Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the level of ethanol blending in petrol in India has reached 9.99%.
Key Points –
• India had targetted 10% ethanol blending in petrol by the end of 2022 and 20% blending by 2030.
• The Centre has also targetted 5% blending of biodiesel with diesel by 2030.
• Ethanol is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
• It is aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil imports. Today, India imports 85% of its oil requirements.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Russia’s new secret military spacecraft
Why in news - Russia has launched a secret military spacecraft into orbit around the Earth using Angara 1.2 rocket.
Key Points –
• It was designated as Kosmos 2555.
• The launch took place at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the town of Mirny.
• Mirny is known for its diamond mines.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Technology Day 2022
Why in news - National Technology Day is observed every year on 11th May across the country.
Key Points –
• On May 11, 1998, India successfully tested nuclear weapons in Pokhran (Operation Shakti).
• Theme for 2022 - “Integrated Approach in Science and technology for sustainable future”.
• The first indigenous aircraft “Hansa-3” was also tested on 11th May.
• The day was started by Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 11th May 1999.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Pulitzer Prizes 2022
Why in news - The 106th class of Pulitzer Prize winners in journalism, books, drama and music were announced.
Key Points –
• India received four awards for documenting its battle with Covid-19.
• A Pulitzer Prize was awarded to the late Danish Siddiqui in the category of Feature Photography. Siddiqui had earlier received the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Feature
Photography.
• Along with Siddiqui, Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Amit Dave were also awarded for their images of Covid's toll on India.
• Important list of winners in journalism
A. Public Service – ‘The Washington Post’ for its account of the assault on Washington Capitol riots.
B. Investigative Reporting - Corey G. Johnson, Rebecca Woolington and Eli Murray of the Tampa Bay Times.
C. Feature Writing - Jennifer Senior of The Atlantic.
D. Criticism - Salamishah Tillet.
About Pulitzer Prize –
• Established in 1917 as per the wishes of Joseph Pulitzer.
• It is administered by Columbia University.
REPORT & INDEX:
1. Global Report on Food Crisis 2022
Why in news - The 6th annual Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) titled “Global Report on Food Crises 2022: Joint analysis for better decisions” (GRFC 2022) was released.
Key Points –
• Around 193 million people in 53 countries or territories experienced acute food insecurity at crisis or worse levels in 2021.
• Global Report on Food Crisis is produced jointly by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme and the European Union.
• The GNAFC, founded by FAO, WFP, and EU in 2016.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Why in news - Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won an outright majority in a Philippines presidential election.
Key Points –
• He is popularly known as "Bongbong".
• The Marcos family was ousted from office in 1986 by the “People Power” uprising.
• He has defeated Leni Robredo.
• Philippines is Southeast Asia’s oldest democracy.
2. Yoon Suk-yeol
Why in news - Yoon Suk-yeol was sworn in as South Korean president on 10th May 2022.
Key Points –
• He had defeated Lee Jae-Myung and succeded Moon Jae-in.
• He belongs to People Power Party.
• South Korea is Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
FESTIVALS:
1. Thrissur Pooram 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated every year with a lot of pomp and fervour at Vadakkunnathan Temple in the city of Thrissur, Kerala.
Key Points –
• It is Kerala's biggest temple festival.
• It is more than 200 years old and was started by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Kochi.
• People pay obeisance to Lord Vadakkunnathan (Lord Siva), the presiding deity of the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
SPORTS:
1. Annual ICC Team Rankings 2022
Why in news – On May 4, 2022, International Cricket Council (ICC) released the annual update for 2022.
Key Points –
• India finished the 2021-22 season as the world’s number one ranked T20 team.
• New Zealand finished as the world’s No.1 ODI team.
• Australia have topped in the ICC men’s Test team rankings.
2. Madrid Open 2022
Why in news – The 2022 Madrid Open (tennis tournament) was was organized from 28th April to 8th May 2022. It was played on the outdoor clay courts at Park Manzanares,Madrid, Spain.
Key Points –
• Men’s Singles - Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) won after defeating Alexander Zverev (Germany).
• Women’s Singles- Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) won after defeating Jessica Pegula (USA).
• Men’s Doubles- Wesley Koolhof (Netherlands) and Neal Skupski (United Kingdom) won after defeating Juan Sebastián Cabal (Colombia) and Robert Farah (Colombia).
• Women’s Doubles- Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) and Giuliana Olmos (Mexico) won after defeating Desirae Krawczyk (USA) and Demi Schuurs (Netherlands).
OBITUARY:
1. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Why in news - Renowned santoor player and celebrated musician Pandit Shivkumar Sharma passed away on 10th May 2022.
Key Points –
• He was the recipient of the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1986, Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
• He played in front of an audience for the first time in 1955 in Haridass Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai
• He composed the background music for one of the scenes in the 1956 film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje.
• He composed music for several Hindi films, including Silsila, Chandni as well as Darr.
PLACES IN NEWS:
1. Port of Odessa
Why in news - Russia attacked the vital port of Odesa to disrupt supply lines and Western weapons shipments.
Key Points –
• Odesa seaport is located in Southwestern Ukraine in the Black Sea.
• It is the largest Ukrainian seaport.
• It’s satellite ports are Chornomorsk and Yuzhne.
STATES/UTs:
1. Breakfast scheme for school students
Why in news - Tamil Nadu is set to become the first state in the country to offer breakfast in government schools, along with the mid-day meal.
Key Points –
• Breakfast will be provided for students studying in Classes 1 to 5 in the state.
• Similar recommendation was made in the new National Education Policy (NEP).
• Tamil Nadu was the first state to roll out a school feeding scheme in 1956 later emulated by the union government as the midday meal scheme.
2. Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana
Why in news - A total of 25,000 households in East Delhi will be provided free sewer connections under the scheme.
Key Points –
• An amount of Rs 19 crore has been allocated.
• The aim is to prevent the sewage that is generated from landing in the River Yamuna.
• It will help prevent 2.5 crore litres of untreated waste from falling into River Yamuna.
BIHAR:
1. ‘Krishi Vigyan Kendra’ Ara
Why in news - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ara will now work under the control of Sabour Agricultural University.
Key Points –
• The state government and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research have given permission in this regard.
• Prior to this, It was under the control of Son Command Area Development Agency.
• Regional director of Mithapur Agricultural Research Institute will be the controlling officer of the Vigyan Kendra.
2. Permanent center for SDRF in Bihar
Why in news - The Disaster Management Department is preparing to make Permanent centers for the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in flooded areas.
Key Points –
• Such centers with 40 personnel of SDRF will be set in the flood-prone districts of North Bihar.
• Earlier, SDRF teams were deputed permanently in six districts namely Saharsa, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Madhubani, Khagaria and Sitamarhi.
• Later, the SDRF team has also been deputed permanently in Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Madhepura, Begusarai, Saran and West Champaran districts.
• SDRF was formed in March 2010 in Bihar along the lines of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
3. Digital technology for school education in Bihar
Why in news – Students studying in middle and higher secondary schools will be given information about digital technology.
Key Points –
• For this, ICT labs are being established in 1987 schools in 2022-23.
• Rs 357 crores have been allotted for the project.
• Rs 640000 will be spent on setting up ICT labs in each school.
• It will reduce the need for students to go to cyber café for every work.
4. Arbitrary price of medicines to be checked in Bihar
Why in news – The Health Department has decided to set up a Price Monitoring Resource Unit in the state.
Key Points –
• This unit will monitor the sale process of different companies of the country as per the actual price of the medicines.
• Bihar will be the 16th state in the country where Price Monitoring Processing Unit will be set up.
5. Teacher Training Institutes (TTI) ranking
Why in news – The Directorate of Research and Training of the Education department has released the list of Top-5 and Bottom-5 state TTIs.
Key Points –
• The Primary Teacher Education College (PTEC) has topped while District Institute of Education and Training, Rohtas has been ranked last.
• Teacher Education College Tukri, Muzaffarpur (2nd), PTEC BNR Patna (3rd), Block Teacher Education Institute Nursarai, Nalanda(4th) and Teacher Education College, Samastipur (5th).
• Top 5 TTIs have been given 85,84,75,75 and 75marks out of 100.
• The ranking is based on 35 points across 6 fields.
POINTERS:
• Who became the new CMD of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited - Pushp Kumar Joshi.
• Who inaugurated the permanent campus of IIM Nagpur - Ramnath Kovind.
• Who was the head of the Delimitation Commission which redrawn the electoral map of Jammu and Kashmir - Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
• India's first fast aerodynamics train will run between which cities - Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut.
• Which state has provided free high speed internet connectivity near more than 58000 village locations - Uttar Pradesh.
• According to the CRS report, the death rate in India increased by what percent during the year 2022 - 6.2 percent.
• What is the theme of World Red Cross Day 2022 - Be Human Kind.
• Which state government has recently set up the General Category Commission – Himachal Pradesh.
• In which Indian city the 7th India International Science Festival was organized – Panaji.
• Which ministry has started Yoga Festival at Red Fort in Delhi – Ministry of AYUSH.