NATIONAL:
1. Centre orders ban on sugar exports
Why in news - India restricted exports of sugar (on 24th May 2022) by 100 lakh (10 million) MTs during the current sugar season (October 2021 to September 2022).
Key Points –
• Exports ban effective from 1st June.
• It also allowed duty-free import of 20 lakh metric tonnes of crude soyabean oil and crude sunflower oil a year for two years (2022-23 and 2023-24).
• India is the largest producer of sugar in the world and the second-largest exporter after Brazil.
• Last curb on sugar export – 2016.
2. International Yoga Day
Why in news - The main event of the 8th International Yoga Day celebrations would be held on 21st June in Mysuru, Karnataka.
Key Points –
• Special attraction would be ‘Guardian Ring’ - a relay Yoga streaming event.
• Streaming is likely to start from Japan.
• PM Modi would attend the event.
3. Jet Airways to start commercial flights
Why in news - Jet Airways received an air operator certificate (AOC) from regulator DGCA to fly operations again.
Key Points –
• It went bankrupt and stopped flying from April 2019.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Taliban- UAE deal
Why in news - Taliban struck a deal with UAE to manage three airports in Afghanistan.
Key Points –
• ‘GAAC Solutions’ would manage the airports in Herat, Kabul and Kandahar.
• UAE has agreed to represent United States in Taliban-run Afghanistan.
2. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Corps (IRGC) guard assassinated
Why in news - Colonel Sayyad Khodai was shot dead in Tehran.
Key Points –
• It was the most high-profile killing since the November 2020 murder of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
3. Monkeypox in Europe
Why in news - Belgium becomes first country to make quarantine compulsory for monkeypox patients.
Key Points –
• 21-day compulsory quarantine.
• Cases reported in the UK, Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, the US, Canada and Australia,
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. QUAD Summit 2022
Why in news - The 2022 Quad summit held in Tokyo, Japan on 24th May 2022.
Key Points –
• It was the 4th Quad summit and the 2nd in-person summit.
• Important initiatives launched –
A. QUAD Fellowship - 25 students from each Quad country to pursue higher studies at leading universities in the United States.
B. ‘Indo¬Pacific Economic Framework’ (IPEF) - 13 countries to work for ensuring economic competitiveness.
C. Maritime monitoring plan - to curb illegal fishing in the Indo¬Pacific.
About QUAD –
• It is an informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia.
• Aim – ‘free, open and prosperous’ Indo-Pacific region.
• Idea was first mooted by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in 2007.
• In December 2012, Shinzo Abe gave the concept of Asia’s ‘Democratic Security Diamond’.
• 1st summit - March 2021.
• China term it as ‘an Asian NATO’.
2. 75th World Health Assembly
Why in news – Minister of Health, Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the 75th World Health Assembly (22-28nd May 2022) in Geneva.
Key Points –
• Theme – ‘Health for peace, peace for health’.
• He called for streamlining WHO's approval process for vaccines and therapeutics and strengthening WHO to build a more resilient global health security architecture.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Time’s 100 most influential people 2022
Why in news – Time 100 which is an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world has been released.
Key Points –
• From India - Gautam Adani (Business tycoon, Titans category), Karuna Nandy (Supreme Court lawyer, Leaders category) and Khurram Parvez (Human Rights activist, Leaders category).
• The list is divided into 6 categories- Pioneers, Icons, Artists, Titans, Leaders and Innovators.
|
Category |
Top |
|
Titans |
Tim Cook |
|
Artists |
Simu Liu |
|
Innovators |
Zendaya |
|
Leaders |
Mia Mottley (Vladimir Putin- 4th, Xi Jinping – 10th, Joe Biden – 11th) |
|
Icons |
Mary J. Blige |
|
Pioneers |
Candace Parker |
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Maya’s Pit Viper
Why in news – Scientists have discovered a new species of venomous snak, Maya’s Pit viper from Meghalaya.
Key Points –
• Scientific name - Trimeresurus mayaae.
• Discovered at Umroi Military station in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
AGREEMENTS:
1. Indian Railways and IIT Madras
Why in news - Indian Railways to join hands with IIT Madras for the development of ‘indigenous’ Hyperloop system.
Key Points –
• ‘Avishkar Hyperloop’ was formed by IIT Madras in 2017 for the development of Hyperloop- system for transportation.
• At the European Hyperloop Week 2021, it had bagged the ‘Most Scalable Design Award’.
2. Project WARDEC
Why in news - The Army Training Command signed an MoU with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to develop a ‘Wargame Research and Development Centre’ in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• It would use artificial intelligence (AI) to design virtual reality wargames.
• The RRU would join hands with Tech Mahindra to develop the centre.
3. India-Jordan
Why in news – MOUs were signed between India and Jordan to ensure the supply of Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers to India.
Key Points –
• Short term (1 year) - Supply of 30 LMT Rock Phosphate, 2.50 LMT DAP and 1 LMT phosphoric acid.
• Long term (5 years) - 2.75 LMT of MoP, which will gradually increase to 3.25 LMT each year.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Vinai Kumar Saxena
Why in news - Vinai Kumar Saxena has been appointed as the new lieutenant governor of Delhi. He succeeded Anil Baijal.
FESTIVALS:
1.Lavender Festival
Why in news - Bhaderwah (Doda district) of Jammu and Kashmir to host lavender festival on Date - 25-26 May.
Key Points –
• To be organised by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM).
• CSIR-IIIM Jammu has developed an elite variety (RRL12) of lavender.
• Purple revolution – lavender cultivation.
SPORTS:
1. English Premier League
Why in news - Manchester City has won 2021-22.
Key Points –
• It has defeated Aston Villa 3-2 in the final game.
• It was their 6th Premier League title in 11 seasons.
STATES/UTs:
1. ‘Sambhav’ Portal
Why in news – Uttar Pradesh launched the SAMBHAV (Systemic Administration Mechanism for Bringing Happiness and Value) portal for disposal of public grievances.
BIHAR:
1. Caste Census
Why in news – An all-party meet on the statewide caste census issue would be held on 1st June 2022.
Key Points –
• The Central government ruled caste census despite the state legislature’s two unanimous resolutions favouring the same.
2. First Art Museum
Why in news – The country's first craft museum would be built in Patna, Bihar.
Key Points –
• Building cost - 30 crores and display center cost -6.2 crores.
• It is being bulit at Upendra Maharathi Crafts Research Institute Patna.
3. Ganga Uplift Project
Why in news – Hon CM Nitish Kumar inspected the Ganga Udvah (uplift) project in Nalanda, Nawada and Gaya districts.
Key Points –
• Also, inspected the rubber dam being built at Devghat of Vishnupad.
• The length of the Ganga Udvah Project is about 491 km. It aims to provide drinking water to Gaya, Bodh Gaya and urban areas during summers.
• The rubber dam was to be completed in 2023, which would be completed in August 2022.
4. Abdul Haq
Why in news – Abdul Haq has been made the chairman of Bihar Hajj Committee. He is son-in-law of Elias Hussain alias Sonu Babu, former chairman of Bihar State Hajj Committee.
5. UDISE Portal
Why in news – It is mandatory to upload student's report on U-DISE (Unified District Information System for Education) portal in Bihar.
Key Points –
• Last date to upload information - 30 September 2022.
• Under the new National Education Policy, Anganwadi centers are being included as pre-nursery this time in the report of U-DISE.
• For the first time, data of transgender students would also be collected in U-DISE.
6. Prof BP Verma
Why in news – Indian Chemical Society, Kolkata has decided to confer an award in the name of Prof BP Verma.
Key Points –
• He was instrumental in establishment of thermal laboratory in Magadha University.
• He earned game for his work on ‘triphenylphosphine’.
• He organised 27th National Conference of Chemists at Bodhgaya.
7. E-content for engineering colleges
Why in news – The Department of Science and Technology has decided to prepare course design, research, online e-content reading material with help of retired ITI teachers.
Key Points –
• All India Council for Technical Education has also given consent.
• Also, compulsorily program for skill development.
8. Reverse Vending Machine
Why in news – It has been installed at Maurya Lok Complex and Boring Road chauraha in Patna.
Key Points –
• Other types of plastic including water bottles could be recycled.
• It can crush and recycle 3000 bottles at a time.
9. Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat
Why in news – On the occasion of ‘Azadi ke Amrit Mahotsav’,the folk culture of Bihar and Tripura were displayed on one stage.
Key Points –
• It was organized by Eastern Zone Cultural Center, Kolkata and Bihar Art, Culture and Youth Department.
• Artists from Bihar performed on the songs of the folk festival Sama-Chakeva and Jhijhiya, Jhumar, Jat-Jatin, Kajri, Holi.
• Artists from Tripura performed Levang Bomani and Momita dance.
10. Surprise inspection of panchayats
Why in news – Officers to conduct surprise inspection on 25-26th May 2022 in selected panchayats.
Key Points –
• The District Magistrate himself would examine and monitor the inspection report.
• Like before, this time also the officers would inspect a total of 14 points.
• DM would monitor for least 20 minutes the way of teaching and the quality of learning of the students.
11. National Career Service (NCS) report
Why in news – According to NCS report, 73% of the youth of Bihar seeking employment are illiterate.
Key Points –
• The number of such people is 537000.
• The people of Bihar are at the forefront of seeking employment across the country.
• After 10th, 19,39,000 unemployed people have registered across the country who have done diploma. Out of this, 10,371 i.e., 5.35% belong to Bihar.
POINTERS:
• With whom has the BCCI tied up for the Women's T20 Challenge - NFT partner.
• The export duty on new iron ore and concentrates has been increased from 30% to what percent - 50%.
• Which company has become the first company to be traded on the Indian Gas Exchange - ONGC.
• Who has launched the revamped 'Abha' mobile app to manage health records - National Health Authority.
• Which edition of Indian Navy-Bangladesh Navy Coordinated Petrol has been launched recently - Fourth edition.
• Which bank has constituted a committee to review customer service standards in banks and NBFCs - Reserve Bank of India.
• Who has broken the national record of women's 100m hurdles - Jyoti Yaraji.
• Which state government has ordered 33% reservation for women in outsourced employees in all its departments - Karnataka.
• With whom has the Information and Public Relations Department of Jammu and Kashmir signed an MoU for J&K's First National Film Festival. - With National Film Development Corporation Limited.
• India and which country have recently signed a MoU for cooperation in the fertilizer sector - Jordan.