NATIONAL:
1. Government released breed-wise report of livestock
Why in news – 23 breeds of indigenous cattle registered a decline in numbers ranging from 1.08% to 93.48% in 7 years between 2012 and 2019.
Key Points –
• The report is based on 20th Livestock Census 2018-19.
• It was released by Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala on 12th May 2022.
• The number of indigenous cattle declined by 6% to 14.21 crore in 2019 from 15.12 crore in 2012. Their share in the total cattle population fell to 73% from 79%.
• Maximum decline has been seen in Khariar (93%), Kherigarh (75%), Kenkatha (67%), Motu (56%) and Hariana (56%).
• 14 indigenous breeds have registered an increase between 2012-19.
• In absolute number, Gir had the highest population of 68.57 lakh followed by Lakhimi (68.29 lakh) and Sahiwal (59 lakh).
• The number of Exotic/Crossbred cattle grew from 3.9 crores in 2012 to 5 crores in 2019.
• According to the 20th Livestock Census, 36.04% of the livestock population belongs to cattle.
2. PM-WANI launched in 100 railway stations
Why in news – RailTel has started the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) on at 100 railway stations across 22 states.
Key Points –
• One has to download the ‘Wi-DOT’ app to make access to PM –WANI wi-fi services at railway stations.
• PM-WANI is a program of the Department of Telecom to set up public Wi-Fi access network interfaces.
• ‘PM-WANI’ was first recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2017.
3. India’s first biogas EV charging station
Why in news – India’s first organic waste-powered EV charging station was inaugurated at Keshavrao Khadye road near Haji Ali in Mumbai.
Key Points –
• It would generate 220 units of electricity from food waste.
• It is a joint venture between the civic BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and AeroCare Clean Energy.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. S Korea joined NATO cyber defence unit
Why in news – South Korea became the first Asian country to be admitted to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE).
Key Points –
• Now, NATO CCDCOE has 32 countries (27 NATO, 5 Non-NATO) as its official members.
• South Korea has participated in the ‘Locked Shields 2022’, the largest live-fire cyber defence exercise in the world.
• It was established in 2008 on the initiative of Estonia.
2. ‘Saudi Aramco’ becomes the world’s most valuable company
Why in news – Oil giant Saudi Aramco surpassed Apple as the world’s most valuable firm.
Key Points –
• Aramco has a market capitalization of about $2.43 trillion. (Apple - $2.37 trillion).
• It was a short-lived move and Apple retakes the top spot again.
3. The Biggest white diamond ‘The Rock’ sold
Why in news – The biggest white diamond ever auctioned for $18.8 million at Christie's auction house in Geneva.
Key Points –
• It was extracted from a mine in South Africa in the early 2000s.
• It is a 228.31carat pear-shaped diamond.
AGREEMENTS:
1. India and Madagascar ink MoU on broadcasting
Why in news - India’s Prasar Bharati has signed an MoU with Madagascar’s ORTM (Office de la Radio et de la Television) for cooperation and collaboration in broadcasting.
SECURITY:
1. IAF test-fires extended-range BrahMos
Why in news - The range of BrahMos was earlier around 290 km which has now increased to around 350 km.
Key Points –
• It was launched from a Su-30 MKI aircraft.
• It is a supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed with Russia.
• Earlier, it was fired from the INS Chennai (Navy) on 5th March.
• BrahMos is named after the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
• It’s speed is Mach 2.8, nearly 3 times more than the speed of sound.
2. 'Operation Dudhi'
Why in news - Assam Rifles honoured surviving soldiers of India’s most successful counter-insurgency offensive ‘operation Dudhi’.
Key Points –
• Assam Rifles’ 7th Battalion led by Naib Subedar Padam Bahadur Chhetri gunned down 72 militants and captured 13 others in J&K on 5th May, 1991.
• Two soldiers, Kameshwar Prasad and Ram Kumar Arya died during the six-hour gun battle.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Bangla Academy Award 2022
Why in news - West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has been awarded the first Bangla Academy award.
Key Points –
• For her book ‘Kabita Bitan’ which contains 946 poems.
• The award was introduced in 2022 by Sahitya Academy and Mamata Banerjee is its first recipient.
• ‘Kabita Bitan’ was launched at the 2020 Kolkata Book Fair.
• Ratna Rashid Bandopadhyay returned the ‘Anand Shankar Smarak award’ protesting against the decision to honour CM Mamata Banerjee.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Ranil Wickremesinghe
Why in news - Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister for 5th time.
Key Points –
• He was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 26th Prime Minister.
• He belongs to United National Party (UNP).
2. Rajiv Kumar
Why in news - Rajiv Kumar would take over as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from 15th May 2022.
Key Points –
• He would succeed current CEC Sushil Chandra.
• President appoints CEC under Article 324(2).
• He is a 1984 batch IAS officer of the Bihar/Jharkhand cadre.
SCI - TECH:
1. Milkyway’s Black Hole
Why in news - Astronomers captured the first image of Milky Way’s black hole.
Key Points –
• The Milky Way black hole is called Sagittarius A (asterisk).
• The image was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope.
• In April 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope released the first-ever image of a Black Hole.
About Black Hole –
• The concept was given by Albert Einstein in 1915 and the term ‘black hole’ was coined by John Archibald Wheeler.
• Gravitational waves are created when two black holes merge.
OBITUARY:
1. Leonid Kravchuk
Why in news - Leonid Kravchuk who served as the first President of independent Ukraine passed away.
Key Points –
• He was known as the ‘wily fox’.
• He signed the ‘Belovezha accords’ with Russian President Boris Yeltsin on 8th Dec 1991 which formally declared that the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
STATES/UTs:
1. National Anthem in Madrassas
Why in news - Uttar Pradesh government made singing the national anthem compulsory for all madrassas in the state.
Key Points –
• It would be applicable to all madrassas — government-aided, recognised as well as non-aided.
• The District Minority Welfare Officers would ensure compliance of the order.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Investors’ Summit
Why in news - Bihar organised an international investors summit on 12th May 2022 to bring more opportunities and capital to the state.
Key Points –
• The event was held at Hotel Taj Man Singh in New Delhi.
• This was the first Bihar investor summit since 2007.
• Ambuja Cements Ltd would set up its unit in Barh at an estimated cost of ₹1,200 crores.
• The unit would have a 5-million tonne production capacity.
• Representatives of nearly 170 companies attended the event.
2. No reservation for OBCs in Municipal elections in Bihar
Why in news - The State Election Commission has decided to conduct municipal elections without giving reservations to OBCs.
Key Points –
• Only women, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SC-STs) would be given reservation on the basis of population.
• It is happening because the government is unable to conduct ‘The Triple Test’ as mandated by the Supreme court in Rahul Ramesh Wagh v. State of Maharashtra & ors case.
• There are a total of 263 municipal bodies in Bihar out of which elections would be held in 250 in 2022.
• There are 19 Municipal Corporations, 89 Nagar Parishads and 155 Nagar Panchayats in the State.
3. Bihar Solar Street Light Scheme
Why in news - A technical management cell would be constituted in every district to monitor the scheme regularly.
Key Points –
• The cell would work under the executive engineer of the Energy Department.
• In one gram panchayat each of North Bihar and South Bihar solar street lights would be tested.
• Under this scheme, 10 solar street lights are to be installed in every rural ward.
• The Panchayati Raj Department and Bihar Renewal Energy Development (BREDA) are jointly working on this.
POINTERS:
• In which country the 12th AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship has been started – Turkey (Istanbul).
• Which Indian has won the gold medal in the 100m hurdles race at the Cyprus International Athletics Meet 2022 - Jyoti Yarraji.
• Which institution has constituted an advisory committee on matters related to ESG in securities market - SEBI.
• Where has the 12th 'Hockey India Senior Women's National Championship' started recently – Bhopal.
• Between which countries, the ‘Defender Europe 2022’ and ‘Swift Response 2022’ war exercises have been held recently - NATO countries.
• Which country has recently opened a new gas field with the capacity to produce 20 million cubic feet of gas – Bangladesh.
• Who has been appointed as the Director General of IAF recently - Sanjeev Kapoor.
• Where did the International Shooting Sports Federation Junior World Cup start -Germany.
• Which athlete tied up with YouTube India to make short films - Neeraj Chopra.
• Which state's Pomai Naga region has been declared as ‘Drug Free John’ – Manipur.