Daily Current Affairs for BPSC as on 13.05.2022

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.

 

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