NATIONAL:
1. Madtsoiidae Snake
Why in news - Scientists discovered a fossil of a pre-historic giant snake in Ladakh.
Key Points –
• It is an extinct group of medium-sized snakes firstly appeared during the later part of the Cretaceous period (146- 66 million years ago).
• It was mostly found in the Gondwanan landmasses.
• It disappeared in the mid-Paleogene period.
2. ‘YUVA Tourism Clubs’ Initiative
Why in news - YUVA Tourism Clubs are being established by the Ministry of Tourism as a part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.
Key Points –
• The CBSE has been instructed to form such clubs in its affiliated institutions.
• It would nurture and develop young people as ambassadors of Indian tourism.
3. National Data Analytics Platform (NDAP)
Why in news - NITI Aayog has launched the NDAP for open public use on 13th May 2022.
Key Points –
• It aims to democratize access to public government data by making data accessible for open public use.
• In August 2021, a beta version of the platform was released which provided access to only a few users for testing and feedback.
• It has 203 datasets from 46 central government ministries and agencies.
INTERNATIONAL:
1.PM Modi’s visit to Nepal
Why in news - PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the ‘India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage’ in Lumbini, Nepal on 16th May 2022.
Key Points –
• It would be constructed by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi.
• It would be the first ‘Net Zero Emission’ building in Nepal.
• Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in563 BCE in the gardens of Lumbini.
• Ashokan Pillar erected in 249 BCE is the first epigraphic evidence of Lumbini being the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
• Lumbini is included in the list of World Heritage areas by UNESCO.
• It is PM Modi's 5th visit to Nepal since 2014.
2. Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO
Why in news - The leaders of Finland and Sweden have officially applied to join NATO in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Key Points –
• Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia.
• NATO membership needs to be approved and ratified by all 30 members of the alliance.
About NATO –
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established by the Washington Treaty in April, 1949.
• There are currently 30 member states.
• Founding members - Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty stipulates that an attack on one will be considered an attack against all. Article 5 was invoked only once on 12th September,
2001 following the 9/11 attacks.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
3. World’s longest suspension footbridge
Why in news - World’s longest suspension footbridge opened in Czech republic.
Key Points –
• It has been named Sky Bridge 721. (721-metre-long)
• It connects the Jeseniky mountains and built at a cost of $8.4 million.
• Previous record for the longest suspension footbridge - 516-metre long Arouca Bridge in Portugal.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Kenton Cool
Why in news - Kenton Cool (British) has scaled the world’s highest peak Mount Everest for the 16th time.
Key Points –
• He became the first non-Nepalese to do so.
• Kami Rita climbed Mt Everest the most number of times (26 times).
2. Devasahayam Pillai
Why in news - Pillai became the first Indian layman to be declared a saint by the Vatican.
Key Points –
• Pope Francis canonised Devasahayam during the Canonisation Mass in St Peter’s Basilica.
• He was born a Hindu on 23rd April,1712 in Nattalam village in Kanyakumari (TN).
• He was baptised in 1745 and assumed the name ‘Lazarus’ (God is my help).
• His mortal remains are kept is Saint Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Kottar, Nagercoil.
3. Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award.
Why in news - Anna Qabale Duba (Kenyan nurse) won the first Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award.
Key Points –
• For campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in her community.
• She got USD 250,000 as prize money.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Forbes Global 2000 list
Why in news - Forbes Global 2000 which ranks the largest companies in the world using four metrics announced.
Key Points –
• Top - Berkshire Hathaway (1st), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (2nd), Saudi Aramco (3rd).
• Top Indian firms - Reliance Industries (53rd), State Bank of India (105th), HDFC Bank (153rd) and ICICI Bank (204th).
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Second Global Summit on Covid-19
Why in news – PM Modi participated in the second global virtual summit on Covid-19 hosted by US President Joe Biden on 12th May 2022.
Key Points –
• Taiwan was invited to the meeting by the US.
• It was co-hosted by the United States, Belize, Germany, Indonesia and Senegal.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Museum Day 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated by museums across the globe on 18th May with the aim to generate awareness about the role of museums in community building and cultural exchange.
Key Points –
• National Museum, New Delhi to celebrate International Museum Day 2022 from 16th-20th May.
• Theme - ‘Power of Museums’.
2. International Day of Living Together in Peace 2022
Why in news – The day is celebrated on the 16th of May and aims to urge people to live together in a united and peaceful way.
Key Points –
• In 2017, the UN General Assembly (resolution 72/130) declared 16th May to be observed as the International Day of Living Together in Peace.
• The first International Day of Living Together in Peace was observed in 2018.
• UNGA declared 2001-2010 as the ‘International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World’.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Ramgarh Sanctuary
Why in news - Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary was notified as a tiger reserve (TR) on 16th May, 2022.
Key Points –
• It is Rajasthan’s fourth TR after Ranthambore, Sariska and Mukundra. (India’s 52nd TR).
• It is spread across Bundi, Bhilwara and Kota districts in Rajasthan. (1,501.89 sq km).
• Ramgarh sanctuary is also home to the Indian wolf, leopard, striped hyena, chinkara, antelope and foxes.
BIHAR:
1. Patna Metro
Why in news - The team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would stay in Patna for the next six months to assess the functioning of the Patna Metro.
Key Points –
• Patna metro project cost - Rs 13,925 crore.
• The share of central and state government is 20% each. 60% of the amount has to be met from financial institutions.
• Rs 2110 crore would be spent on the underground route from Mithapur to Patna Zoo and from Patna Zoo to Patliputra Station (Bailey Road).
2.Guidelines for coaching institutes in Bihar
Why in news – The government is set to regulate coaching institutes across the state.
Key Points –
• Bihar Coaching Institute (Control and Regulation) Act 2010 is applicable to control private coaching institutes in the state.
• Bihar Coaching Institute (Control and Regulation) Rules 2022 requires coaching institutes to apply in the prescribed format for registration.
• The minimum area of the classroom will be 1 m2 per student.
• Only teachers with minimum graduation qualification or retired will be allowed to teach.
• All DMs will constitute the Registration Committee within 15 days of the implementation of the rules and monitor its functioning.
3.Har Ghar Nal ka Jal Scheme
Why in news – Water connections have been given in all the houses of 5730 gram panchayats of Bihar.
Key Points –
• Arwal district has tap water connection for all the households.
• About 99% of the households have access to tap water but the dashboard of the Jal Jeevan Mission shows only 93%.
• According to Center, Pondicherry, Telangana, Goa, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and Himachal are ahead of Bihar.
• The target of Bihar is 1,72,20,634 households and till 16th June, 1,59,59,728 beneficiaries have been linked to the scheme.
POINTERS:
• Which football club has won the I-League title - Gokulam Kerala FC.
• Which union minister has led the Indian delegation to the COP15 summit on desertification - Union Minister for MoEFCC Bhupendra Yadav.
• Who has recently imposed a fine of Rs 59 lakh on Korean bank KEB Hana Bank- Reserve Bank of India.
• Who has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of REC Limited, Ministry of Power- Vivek Kumar Devangan.
• Ranil Wickremesinghe has recently been sworn in as which Prime Minister of Sri Lanka - 26th.
• Who has become the best nurse in the world - Anna Kabale Duba.
• The International Day of Light is celebrated on – 16th May.
• Which of the following company has acquired table reservation platform Dineout – Swiggy.
• According to World Bank report on migration and development, which country has topped the foreign remittance recipient list by receiving USD 89 billion – India.
• What is the theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2022 - Light pollution.
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