NATIONAL:
1. Pegasus Spyware
Why in news - The Supreme Court gave more time to the committee to submit its report with regard to Pegasus’s use for unauthorised surveillance.
Key Points –
• Committee is headed by Justice R V Raveendran (retd).
• K.S. Puttaswamy judgment (2017) - Right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty (Article 21).
• Justice BN Srikrishna Committee 2018 – To make a ‘Data Protection Framework’.
About Pegasus -
• Developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group.
• Use - Gain access to devices without the knowledge of users and gather personal information.
• In 2016 smartphones were infected using a technique called “spear-fishing”.
• By 2019, Pegasus used ‘zero-click installation’ technique.
2. India’s first state-owned OTT
Why in news - Kerala would launch a state-owned over-the-top (OTT) platform, CSpace, on 1st November 2022.
Key Points –
• It is an initiative of Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).
• KSFDC (formed in 1975) is the first public sector corporation for film development in India.
ECONOMY:
1. FDI inflow hits all-time high
Why in news - India has recorded the ‘highest ever’ annual FDI (foreign direct investment) inflow of USD 83.57 billion in 2021-22.
Key Points –
• In 2020-21 - USD 81.97 billion. (2% increase).
• Top investor countries – Singapore (27%), USA (18%) and Mauritius (16%).
• Top FDI receiving sectors - Computer software and hardware > Services sector > Automobile industry.
• Top FDI receiving states - Karnataka (38%) > Maharashtra (26%) > Delhi (14%).
• FDI in manufacturing sectors has increased by 76% in 2021-22 (USD 21.34 billion).
SPORTS:
1. Women’s World Boxing Championships
Why in news - Nikhat Zareen becomes the 5th Indian woman to win a World title (gold medal) at the Women’s World Championships.
Key Points –
• Venue – Istanbul, Turkey.
• She defeated Thai Olympian Jutamas Jitpong 5-0 in the 52kg final.
• Former winners - Mary Kom, Sarita Devi, Jenny RL and Lekha KC.
• Manisha Moun (57kg) and Parveen Hooda (63kg) won bronze after losing to Irma Testa and Amy Broadhurst respectively.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. XV (15th) World Forestry Congress
Why in news - The 15th Congress was hosted by South Korea (co-organized with FAO) in Seoul from 2nd to 6th May 2022.
Key Points –
• The Seoul Declaration was adopted (signed by 141 countries).
• Theme for 2022 - Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient future with forests.
• It was the 2nd congress held in Asia.
About World Forestry Congress –
• It is held every 6 years.
• 1st World Forestry Congress – Rome (1926).
• First Congress in Asia – Indonesia (1978).
2. ‘Global Food Security Call to Action’ ministerial meeting
Why in news – It was convened to discuss the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the resulting supply disruptions.
Key Points –
• It was chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
• V Muraleedharan represented India at a ministerial conference in New York.
• India accused the West of neglecting principles of justice, affordability and accessibility in the case of anti-Covid-19 vaccinations and asked them not to do so again in the case of food grains.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2022
Why in news – It is observed globally on 21st May to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony.
Key Points –
• It was created after the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001.
2. National Endangered Species Day 2022
Why in news – It is observed annually on the 3rd Friday in May to take action for the protection of endangered species.
Key Points –
• Theme 2022 – ‘Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration’.
• It was founded by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition in 2006.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Pieter Elbers
Why in news – IndiGo announced the appointment of Pieter Elbers as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the airline. He would succeed Ronojoy Dutta.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Third-stage of Vikram-1 rocket tested
Why in news - Space startup Skyroot Aerospace has successfully conducted the full-duration (108 seconds) test-firing of the 3rd stage of the Vikram-1 rocket.
Key Points –
• It is India’s first privately built satellite launch vehicle.
• The 3rd stage is named Kalam-100.
• Test conducted at Solar Industries, Nagpur.
• CEO of Skyroot Aerospace - Pawan Kumar Chandana.
STATES/UTs:
1. AAP govt’s doorstep ration delivery scheme
Why in news - The Delhi high court struck down the Delhi government’s ‘Mukhymantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna’.
Key Points –
• Reasons –
A. Foodgrains allotted under National Food Security Act (NFSA) cannot be used for running a state-specific scheme.
B. Lt governor did not give the approval.
2. Madam Tussaud Museum in Noida
Why in news - The famed Madame Tussauds wax museum would be housed on the 4th floor of DLF Mall of India, Noida, covering an area of 16,000 sq ft.
Key Points –
• Key figures to be displayed - Narendra Modi, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chand Bose, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Virat Kohli.
• The museum first opened in Connaught Place, Delhi in 2017.
BIHAR:
1. People caught drinking or selling liquor to be barred from state benefits
Why in news - Preparations are on to evict alcoholics from the benefits of government schemes in Bihar.
Key Points –
• Liquor prohibition, Excise and Registration Department is making a proposal.
• They can also be banned from contesting elections.
• Section 65 of the Prohibition of Alcohol and Excise Act 2016 provides that the State can deprive the accused of certain facilities, license etc.
2. ‘Right to Eat’ Campaign
Why in news – FSSAI has rated Beur jail, AIIMS and Paras ki Rasoi as excellent in the audit conducted under ‘Right to Eat’ campaign.
Key Points –
• Beur jail – 4 stars.
• AIIMS and Paras giver 5-star certificates.
• AIIMS kitchen where patients’ food is prepared has been declared as Eat Right campus.
• Among jails, Navada jail was the first to get certificate of better hygiene with 3 stars.
• Kitchen can be closed if rating is less than 3 i.e., 85%.
• Earlier, offerings of Mahavir temple,Patna was rated excellent.
3. Sher Shah Suri Mahotsav
Why in news – The Shershah Suri Mahotsav is being organized by the Tourism Department, Bihar from 21-22 May.
Key Points –
• Venue - Fazalganj Stadium, Sasaram.
• Eminent singer Yasir Desai, Salman Ali, Aditi Pan and Akanksha Sharma would perform.
• Sufi singing by ‘Rang Setu’.
About Sher Shah Suri (1540-55) –
• Assumed the title of Sher Shah After defeating Humayun in 1540.
• Laid four important highways-
A. Sonargaon to Sind
B. Agra to Burhampur
C. Jodhpur to Chittor
D. Lahore to Multan
• He extended the Grand Trunk Road from Chittagong to Kabul.
• Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote Padmavat during his reign.
• He built his own mausoleum in Sasaram.
4. Agricultural production to be fixed at Panchayat level
Why in news – The target of agriculture would no longer be decided on the basis of estimates.
Key Points –
• At panchayat level, the officers would decide the target in consultation with farmers.
• It has started from this Kharif season.
• 3600 agricultural workers have been given the responsibility.
• App to be used – Bihan.
• Last year target – 33L ha (paddy), 4.50L ha (maize), 1.50L ha (pulses), 50000 ha (coarse cereas).
5. 250 MW solar project in Bihar
Why in news – Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) has overturned the order of BERC.
Key Points –
• APTEL has asked the power company Avaada to setup a 250 MW solar project instead of 200 MW.
• The decision has cleared the way for investment of 250 crores in Bihar.
6. Electricity from green energy
Why in news – An MoU has been signed between Bihar State Power Holding Corporation (BSPHCL) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
Key Points –
• Green energy would supply electricity to Rajgir, Bodh Gaya and some parts of Patna.
• In the 1st phase, SECI would supply 210 MW of renewable energy per day at the identified sites.
• Bihar has become the 1st state in the country where green energy is being supplied to the cities of the state.
• 700 mn tonnes of conventional energy would be replaced by green energy per year, thereby reducing emissions of 630 mn tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
• The average rate of green energy would be Rs 4.03 per kWh.
7. Ex-gratia grant to thunderstorm deceased dependents
Why in news – Hon CM Nitish Kumar directed officials to immediately give 4 lakh ex-gratia grant to the dependents of those who died due to thunderstorm.
Key Points –
• Also, asked to give compensation for home and crop damage.
POINTERS:
• Which Union Minister has chaired the 7th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of NDB - Nirmala Sitharaman.
• India's Nikhat Zareen has won which medal at the Women's World Boxing Championships - Gold Medal.
• Which state government has notified “Nanjarayan Lake” as the 17th Bird Sanctuary - Tamil Nadu State.
• Which insurance company has recently launched India's first dental health insurance plan - PNB MetLife India Insurance.
• Which state's cabinet has recently approved Rs 1500 per acre incentive for farmers – Punjab.
• Who has recently unveiled the Bharat Tap project - Hardeep Singh Puri
• India and who have signed an MoU on the 'Reconstruction Project of Old Colder Community Centre' - St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• The country which hosted the Deaflympics 2021 – Brazil.
• The country whose scientists have proposed a project to survey the sky through space telescope to search for habitable Earthlike planets outside the solar system- China.
• The organization which announced up to $30 billion in aid to overcome food insecurity - World Bank.