NATIONAL:
1. Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP)
Why in news - India’s first OVEP by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was launched in Odisha on 24th May 2022.
Key Points –
• It was developed in partnership with the Government of Odisha and the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust.
• The IOC Session 2023 would be held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai in May 2023
• Nita Ambani is an IOC Member.
2. Kolkata unveils biodiversity register
Why in news - Kolkata is the first metro city in the country to prepare a detailed register of biodiversity.
Key Points –
• It was prepared by the biodiversity management committee (BMC) of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
• Other cities with People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) - Chandigarh and Indore.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Monkeypox in Gulf Countries.
Why in news - The United Arab Emirates became the first Gulf country to announce a case of monkeypox.
Key Points –
• It is 2nd Middle Eastern country after Israel to detect monkeypox.
• The monkeypox virus is a DNA virus.
• It belongs to the family Poxviridae and the genus Orthopoxvirus.
2. RBI permits trade transactions with Sri Lanka in INR
Why in news - RBI allowed exporters to settle trade transactions with Sri Lanka in Indian Rupees (INR).
Key Points –
• India had guaranteed a term loan of $1 billion to Sri Lanka (17th March, 2022) to purchase essential goods and services such as food, medicines, fuel etc.
• It is outside the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) (est - 9th Dec 1974, Hq - Tehran, Iran) mechanism economising on the use of foreign exchange reserves and transfer costs.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. National Women Legislators Conference-2022
Why in news - President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the National Women Legislators’ Conference-2022 in Thiruvananthapuram today on 26th May, 2022.
Key Points –
• Hosted by the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the valedictory function.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Paper Import Monitoring System
Why in news - The government has made it compulsory for importers of paper products, including newsprint to register their deals.
Key Points –
• Effective from 1st October 2022.
• It has been shifted from ‘free’ to ‘free subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System’.
• China is the biggest supplier of cheap paper and such products.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021
Why in news - The Ministry of Education released its National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 report.
Key Points –
Findings –
• Nearly 80% of students during the pandemic have found learning ‘burdensome’.
• Nearly 24% of students responded that they had no digital device at home.
• Approx 45% of students found the digital learning experience ‘joyful’ and 38% also said that they had difficulties in learning.
• Students performed better in languages but lagged behind in subjects like mathematics and science.
• In Class 3, students scored the highest in languages (323), followed by EVS (307) and mathematics (306).
• Across various subjects and classes, SC, ST and OBC students performed worse
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. ‘Param Porul’ Supercomputer
Why in news - A supercomputer named Param Porul was inaugurated at NIT Tiruchirappalli on 25th of May 2022.
Key Points –
• Speed - 838 Teraflops
• Developed by the Centre for Development in Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
• It is based on Direct Contact Liquid Cooling technology.
• PARAM Siddhi-AI is the fastest supercomputer in India with a speed of 5.267 Petaflops.
• Japan’s Fugaku is the world’s fastest supercomputer.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Sangita Kalanidhi Awards 2020-22
Why in news - The Music Academy announced Sangita Kalanidhi award winners for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Key Points –
• Sangita Kalanidhi Awards - Neyveli R Santanagopalan (2020), ‘Tiruvarur’ Bhakthavathsalam (2021) and G J R Krishnan and Vijayalakshmi (2022).
• Sangita Kala Acharya Awards - Kivalur N G Ganesan (2020), Dr Ritha Rajan (2021) and Vainika & Dr R S Jayalakshmi (2022).
• T T K Awards - Thamarakkad Govindan Namboodri (2020), Nemani Somayajulu (2021) and A V Anand (2022).
• Nritya Kalanidhi - Rama Vaidyanathan (2020), Narthaki Nataraj (2021) and Bragha Bessell (2022).
2. International Booker Prize
Why in news - International Booker Prize for fiction winner announced on 26th May.
Key Points –
• Indian writer Geetanjali Shree and American translator Daisy Rockwell won the International Booker Prize for ‘Tomb of Sand’.
• Originally written in Hindi as ‘Ret Samadhi’, translated into English by Daisy Rockwell.
• First book written in an Indian language to be awarded the Booker Prize.
3. VASVIK Industrial Research Award 2020
Why in news - A Gopalakrishnan has won the VASVIK (Vividhlaxi Audyogik Samshodhan Vikas Kendra) industrial research award for the year 2020.
Key Points –
• Won in the category of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
• He is director of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. ‘Listen to Your Heart: The London Adventure’
Why in news - A new book titled ‘Listen to Your Heart: The London Adventure’ authored by Ruskin Bond has been released.
Key Points –
• Published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI).
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Balendra Shah
Why in news - Balendra Shah has been elected as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) (received 61,767 votes).
Key Points –
• Sunita Dangol has won the post of deputy mayor of KMC (received 68,612 votes).
2. Narinder Batra
Why in news - Narinder Batra resigns as president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on 25th May 2022.
Key Points –
• He is also the president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH)
• IOA senior vice president Anil Khanna took over as acting chief.
SPORTS:
1. IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships
Why in news - The 12th edition of the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship (WWBC) concluded.
Key Points –
• Venue - Istanbul, Turkey.
• 310 Boxers from 73 nations participated.
• Belarusian and Russian boxers were barred from the event.
• The India Boxer Nikhat Zareen (Telangana) won the gold in the flyweight (52kg) division with 5-0 points against Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas.
• Manisha Moun (Haryana) and Parveen Hooda (Haryana) had won the bronze medals in the 57kg and 63kg categories respectively.
• Medal tally –
STATES/UTs:
1. Indira Gandhi Shahari Rozgar Yojana
Why in news - Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has approved new guidelines for the implementation of ‘Indira Gandhi Shahari Rozgar Yojana’.
Key Points –
• To provide employment in urban areas along the lines of MGNREGA.
• 100 days of employment per year.
• Budget - Rs 800 crore per year.
• Eligiblity - age group of 18 to 60 years.
BIHAR:
1. Investment in textile and leather industry
Why in news – Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (Textiles and Leather)-2022 was approved on 26th May 2022.
Key Points –
• Government to give a grant upto Rs 10 crore to entrepreneurs and investors in the textile and leather industry.
• Other benefits –
A. Power (electricity) subsidy – Rs 2 per unit,
B. Employment grant – Rs 3000-5000 per worker per month.
C. Freight transportation (export) - Rs10 lakh per year
D. Patent grant – Rs 10 lakh.
• Benefits to new units – 15% subsidy (Maximum – 10 crores) on plant and machinery.
• To avail the benefits, investors need to submit applications online by 30th June, 2023.
• In the policy, the textile manufacturing unit is divided into two parts.
2. Cabinet Meeting
Why in news – 18 decisions have been in Bihar cabinet meeting held on 26th May 2022.
Key points -
• Decisions in the meeting –
A. Rs 267.24 crore approved for construction of permanent structure in SDRF Bihta.
B. Sanction of advance amount of Rs 50 crore from Bihar Contingency Fund.
C. Rs 2.78 crore approved for DPR and survey of Kosi-Mechi inter-state link project.
D. Rs.72 crore 79 lakh for various works in newly established Government Polytechnic in Barh.
E. Rs 105 crore 50 lakh for laboratory, library, class room etc in engineering colleges established in 35 districts under ‘Saat Nischay’.
F. Rs 45,98,80,900 in the current financial year for land and water conservation.
G. For 99 years, Nalanda Institute of Dalai Lama have been exempted from state fees (Rs.6,56,40,000).
H. IIT Patna and NIT Patna have been nominated for capacity building and training of teachers in engineering colleges operating under the Department of Science and Technology.
3. Infant mortality rate (IMR) in Bihar
Why in news – According to Sample Registration System 2020 report, IMR has come down to 27 (National level - 28).
Key points -
• There has been a 2-digit reduction in IMR in Bihar compared to 2020.
• Year IMR (Bihar)
2015 42
2016 38
2017 35
2018 32
2019 29
4. Bihar’s 2nd Doppler Radar System
Why in news – 2nd Doppler radar would be installed in Purnia to forecast the weather changes Seemanchal region.
Key points -
• Presently, Bihar’s only radar is installed in Patna Meteorological Center.
• It can accurately predict time regarding cyclonic storm and rain activities.
5. Evaluation of B.Ed Colleges
Why in news – About 300 private B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) colleges would be tested by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) standards.
Key points -
• In June, NCTE team would examine the faculty and infrastructure in BEd colleges.
6. 200 MW Solar Power project
Why in news – 200 MW solar power generation project to be set up in Banka (75 MW) and Jamui (125 MW).
Key points -
• Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN) (Government of India undertaking) would set up the project.
• North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited entered into an agreement with SJVN.
• At present, 130 MW solar projects are operating within the state, generating 23 crore units of solar power per year.
• On completion of all projects, solar power generation within Bihar would be 830 MW.
7. E-storage facility in Bihar
Why in news – Bihar Dy CM Tarkishor Prasad has launched web-based online software for e-storage.
Key points -
• Bihar became the 1st state in the country to automate the entire activities of the warehouses in a centralized manner.
• The functioning would be transparent through e-warehousing.
8. Integrated manufacturing cluster (IMC) in Bihar
Why in news – A special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be formed to realise IMC.
Key points -
• IMC would be developed in 10 sq km area (1839 km) near Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) passing through the state.
• BIADA is the nodal authority for formation pf SPV.
• AKIC passes through 7 states including Bihar.
9. Farming area reduced by 200000 ha in Bihar
Why in news – Due to the rapid pace of urbanization, two lakh hectares of agricultural land has been made concrete.
Key points -
• In the year 2020, 42.02 lakh hectares were cultivated in the state.
• Present – 39,72,488.52 hectare.
10. Oxygen Pipeline
Why in news – Oxygen pipeline to be laid in 68 Community Health Center.
Key points -
• Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation has been given the responsibility of laying the pipeline.
• It would be completed in one to one and a half months after the completion of the tender process.
• Last year, to overcome the shortage of oxygen, it was decided to set up oxygen generation plants in 122 government hospitals.
POINTERS:
• RBI has issued norms for import of gold by eligible jewelers through which exchange mode - India International Bullion Exchange IFSC (IIBX).
• Who has won the 2021-22 English Premier League title - Manchester City.
• Which state government and BPCL have signed MoU for renewable energy projects – Uttarakhand.
• In which city of Tamil Nadu has Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of projects worth Rs 31500 crore - Chennai.
• DCO and who has launched a new initiative to promote digital FDI flows across the world - WEF.
• In which state/UT was the Lavender Festival 2022 organized - In Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Which player has become the first player in IPL history to hit 700 fours - Shikhar Dhawan.
• The National Achievement Survey report for the 2021 edition has been released by the ministry - Ministry of Education.
• Which magazine has recently released the list of 100 most influential people – Time.
• Which state, have approved new guidelines for the implementation of ‘Indira Gandhi Shahari Rozgar Yojana’ recenty – Rajasthan.