Current Affairs 05th May 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Asthma Day – Observed on First Tuesday of May

• World Asthma Day (WAD) is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma, (GINA) (ginasthma.org), a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993.
• This year’s World Asthma Day theme is “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions”.
• WAD is held each May to raise awareness of Asthma worldwide.
• WHO recognizes that asthma is of major public health importance.
• According to WHO, it was estimated that more than 339 million people had Asthma globally and there were 417,918 deaths due to asthma at the global level in 2016.
• Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes or exacerbations.
• The theme provides a call to action to address common widely held myths and misconceptions concerning asthma that prevent persons with asthma from enjoying optimal benefit from the major advances in the management of this condition.
• Common misconceptions surrounding asthma include:
  • Asthma is a childhood disease; individuals will grow out of it as they age.
  • Asthma is infectious.
  • Asthma sufferers should not exercise.
  • Asthma is only controllable with high dose steroids.

Coal Miners Day – Observed on May 04

• Every year, Coal Miners Day is observed on May 4 for the toughest professionals and the miners working in coal fields. 
• This day is observed as an appreciation for the workers who sacrificed their lives, honour their accomplishments, and remember the tragedies that these hardworking individuals experience.
• So on this day, several organizations and communities raise funds to inform organizations in coal mining areas.
• Coal is one of the basic forms of energy.
• It is one of the most important primary fossil fuels that is rich in carbon.
• Miners put their lives at risk by tunneling, digging, and extracting coal every single day.
• Many miners face lung diseases which are caused due to the inhalation of coal dust the whole day.
• From this, we can conclude that coal mining is one of the most dangerous professions.
• India’s half of the commercial energy needs are fulfilled by the coal industry.
• It’s the fuel for generating power, making steel and cement.

International Midwives’ Day – Observed on May 05

• Each year, May 5is marked as the International Midwife Day in order to recognize the contribution of midwives.
• This year’s IDM theme: “Follow the data: Invest in Midwives”, will coincide with the launch of the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) Report 2021 co-led by United Nations Funds on Populations (UNFPA), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).
• International Day of the Midwives was first celebrated May 7th 1991, and has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world.
• The idea of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives conference in the Netherlands.
• The day has been celebrated by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) since 1992.
• Midwives are women who possess practical knowledge about helping pregnant women during childbirth.

 World Hand Hygiene Day – Observed on May 05

• Every year, the World Hand Hygiene Day is observed on May 5.
• The day is organized by the World Health Organization (WHO)to raise awareness among people across the globe about the importance of hand hygiene in warding off many serious infections.
• The theme for 2021 is ‘Seconds Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’.
• The day recognizes hand washing as one of the most effective actions that can be taken to avoid a huge range of infections including the COVID-19 virus.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Govt obtains 65 % more wheat in current Rabi season which compared to last year

• Government has said that about 65 per cent more wheat has been procured during the current Rabi Marketing Season in comparison to the corresponding period last year. 
• Consumer Affairs Ministry said, the procurement of Wheat is continuing smoothly in the procuring States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar at Minimum Support Price.
• The Ministry said, a quantity of over 299 lakh tonnes of Wheat has been procured against the last year corresponding purchase of around 181 lakh tonnes.
• It said, about 29 lakh 46 thousand farmers have already benefited from the ongoing procurement operations with MSP value of over 59 thousand Crore rupees.
• The Ministry said over 721 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured in the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 and Rabi Marketing Season.
• About one crore eight lakh farmers have benefited from the ongoing procurement operations.

India, EU reaffirm commitment to support Afghanistan 

• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell have reaffirmed commitment to support Afghanistan in its path towards peace, security, self-reliance and prosperity.
• Dr Jaishankar and Mr Borrell called for respecting and protecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. 
• They reaffirmed their strong and continued support to an inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process.
• As representatives of the world’s largest democracies, External Affairs Minister Dr.Jaishankar and Mr.Borrell reaffirmed that any political settlement in Afghanistan must protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, including women, youth and minorities.
• They reiterated that the nature of the peace settlement and its outcome will shape the future of international support and assistance.
• They jointly and firmly condemned the unacceptable level of violence perpetrated against the national forces of Afghanistan and civilians and the targeted assassinations of civil rights activists, media persons and Ulema.
• They reiterated their call for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive nationwide ceasefire.

India attains another milestone by administering more than 16 crore 4 lakh doses of covid vaccine

• India has scaled another peak in its effort to contain the COVID-19 virus with the administration of more than 16 Crore four lakh vaccine doses so far to its citizens.
• Union Health Ministry said, the country also administered more than 13 Crore doses as the first dose and more than three crore vaccine doses have been administered as the second dose.
• The Ministry said, more than two lakh 29 thousand beneficiaries of the age group 18 to 44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine.
• The cumulative vaccination coverage for this age group is over six lakh 62 thousand across 12 States and Union Territories. 
• The Ministry said that more than five crore 29 lakh beneficiaries in the age group of over 60 years has received the first dose and over one crore 23 lakh received the 2nd dose.
• The country has administered nearly 11 lakh 50 thousand vaccine doses till 8 pm.
• More than six lakh 15 thousand beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and over five lakh 33 thousand beneficiaries received 2nd dose of vaccine.

28 States, UTs start to raise food grains from FCI for free distribution to poor under PMGKAY

• Government said that 28 States and Union Territories have started lifting food grains from Food Corporation of India depots for free distribution of food grains to the poor under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
• Last month, Centre had decided to provide free food-grains to nearly 80 crore beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act, NFSA in the month of May and June.
• Under this scheme, five kilogram per person per month food grains will be provided to the NFSA beneficiaries belonging to both Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Householders categories.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed that it is important that the poor people of the country have nutritional support when the country is facing the second wave of coronavirus.
• The Consumer Affairs Ministry said, Food Corporation of India has already positioned sufficient food grains in all States and UTs for successful implementation of the scheme.
• It said 28 States and UTs have started lifting foodgrains from Food Corporation of India depots and Rs. 5.88 lakh tonnes of food grains have been supplied for further distribution to beneficiaries.
• Lakshadweep has completely lifted May and June allocation whereas Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have already lifted 100 percent of May allocation.
• The Ministry said, the rest of the States and UTs have also been sensitized to immediately start lifting the foodgrains under the scheme.
• It has advised them to encourage migrant NFSA beneficiaries for using the facility of portability under One Nation One Ration Card plan.
• The Ministry said, Centre will bear the entire cost of implementation of this scheme, without any sharing by States and Union Territories.

EAM Dr S Jaishankar with UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel holds meeting in London

• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who is on a four day visit to the UK, held a meeting with Home Secretary Priti Patel in London.
• They signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows between the two countries.
• Dr Jaishankar mentioned, the living bridge between India and UK will get stronger as a result.
• He said, this is an important outcome for the India-UK Virtual Summit.

Petroleum Minister flagged off 1st supply of UCO based Biodiesel blended Diesel

• Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remotely flagged off the first supply of UCO, Used Cooking Oil based Biodiesel blended Diesel from Indian Oil’s Tikrikalan Terminal, Delhi.
• The Centre had initiated Expressions of Interest for “Procurement of Bio-diesel produced from Used Cooking Oil” on the occasion of World Biofuel Day on 10th August 2019.
• Such “Expressions of Interest” are being periodically released by Oil Marketing Companies.
• Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pradhan complimented the Oil industry on the stellar role played by them in keeping the fuel lines running despite the stiff challenges of the pandemic.
• He also lauded the OMCs for going beyond the usual business imperatives by extending support for medical oxygen supply to the nation in this crisis.
• Mr Pradhan also appreciated Indian Oil’s leadership role in smoothening the Liquid oxygen logistics in the country through various initiatives.
• Regarding the first supply of UCO-based Biodiesel from Indian Oil’s Tikrikalan Terminal, the Minister termed it as landmark in India’s pursuance of Biofuels.
• He said it will have a positive impact on the environment.
• This initiative will garner substantial economic benefits for the nation by shoring up indigenous Biodiesel supply, reducing import dependence, and generating rural employment.

Yoga Day promotional activities planned to conducted through digital & electronic platforms

• The Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports have tapped into the spirit of International Day of Yoga to encourage the public to pursue Yoga as a daily routine for good health and well-being.
• The two Ministries came together to organize a virtual event to mark 50 days in the countdown to International Day of Yoga 2021.
• In view of the COVID surge all the Yoga Day promotional activities are being conducted through digital & electronic platforms to encourage participation by citizens from their respective homes.
• The Ministry of Ayush has, in this context, been propagating the message “Be with Yoga, Be at Home”.

EAM S Jaishankar had a meeting with US counterpart Antony Blinken in London

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a meeting with his US counterpart Antony Blinken in London on the sidelines of G-7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
• The two leaders had detailed discussion on the global Covid challenge, focussing on expanded vaccine production capacity and reliable supply chains.
• The meeting also covered issues of Indo-Pacific, UN Security Council, Myanmar and climate change.
• Dr Jaishankar expressed appreciation for the strong US support to India at this difficult time, especially oxygen and Remdesivir.
• Dr Jaishankar is on a 4-day visit Londonbeginning to participate in the G-7 Foreign Ministers Meeting, at which India has been invited as a guest country.
• He will thereafter undertake a bilateral visit to the UK.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US nods major solar energy project in California desert

• The US government has approved a major solar energy project in the California desert that will be capable of powering nearly 90,000 homes.
• The Interior Department said in a statement, that the 550 million dollar Crimson Solar Project will be sited on 2,000 acres of federal land west of Blythe, California.
• The announcement comes as President Joe Biden has vowed to expand development of renewable energy projects on public lands as part of a broader agenda to fight climate change, create jobs.
• The project will include a battery storage system and will be sited on land designated for renewable energy development by the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

EU Commission endorse to ease travel restrictions on fully vaccinated tourists

• The European Union Commission has recommended easing restrictions on non-essential travel from overseas for those who received the last dose of an EU-approved vaccine.
• EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that it was time to revive the EU tourism industry and for cross-border friendships to rekindle safely.
• The EU currently only allows non-essential travel from seven countries.
• Discussions on the plans will begin.
• The EU has already announced plans for a digital certificate, which would cover anyone who is either vaccinated against Covid-19, has a negative test or has recently recovered.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Madhya Pradesh govt announces Rs, 379 crore transferred into accounts of 16,844 beneficiaries under Sambal scheme

• In Madhya Pradesh, 379 crore rupees have been transferred into the accounts of 16 thousand 844 beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Jan-Kalyan Sambal scheme.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the state government accords high priority to benefit the poor families of unorganised sector workers.
• The Chief Minister informed that in the difficult times of crisis beneficiaries of Sambal Yojana are also being given three months of free ration along with financial assistance.
• He called upon the beneficiaries to take precautions against the corona and to protect others along with themselves.
• Meanwhile, Free Swastha Aahar Yojana (Healthy Food Scheme) for the corona patients of Bhopal is also being launched.
• Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang said that the patient will get nutritious food on time free of cost in the hospital where he is admitted.
• Minister Sarang said that as a pilot project, this scheme has been started in 110 hospitals in Bhopal.
• On its success, this scheme will be started in other cities of the state as well.

West Bengal: Mamata Banerji to be sworn-in as CM for 3rd consecutive term 

• TMC leader Mamata Banerjee will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third time.
• Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar mentioned that the swearing-in ceremony will be held at Raj Bhawan.
• Due to the corona situation, the list of guests invited to the ceremony at the Rajbhawan has been kept as short as possible.
• After the swearing in of the Chief Minister, newly elected MLAs of the state will take oath in the Assembly in two phases.

Nation’s first ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ unveiled in Mumbai

• The Nation’s first ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ was inaugurated by MP Rahul Shewale in Mumbai.
• This center has been set up in the parking lot of Kohinoor Square Tower at Dadar.
• This first of its kind ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ facility has been made available to the citizens at a time when people with disabilities are facing difficulties in getting to the vaccination center.
• The center also provides transportation facilities to the citizens who do not have their own vehicles.
• The vaccination has been started and the facility is available for all the sections of the society.
• MP Rahul Shewale informed that this facility will be provided in other multi-parking lots in the city, after assessing the success of this first project.

Delhi CM declared free rations for 2 months, Rs 5,000 aid to autorickshaw & taxi drivers

• The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that all ration card holders in the National Capital will be given free ration for the next 2 months.
• This scheme by the government will benefit nearly 72 lakh ration card holders in Delhi.
• Kejriwal also announced that all autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi will be given 5000 rupees each to provide them the much needed financial assistance during the time of the pandemic.
• The Chief Minister asserted that however the lockdown may not last for two months but the assistance has been extended by the Delhi Government to ensure food and livelihood to the poor amid the difficult times of COVID-19.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Govt gives nod to Telecos for conducting trials for use & applications of 5G technology

• Government has given permissions to Telecom Service Providers for conducting trials for use and applications of 5G technology.
• The applicants include Bharti Airtel Limited, Reliance JioInfocomm Limited, Vodafone Idea Limited and MTNL.
• These Telecom Service Providers, TSP have tied up with original equipment manufacturers and technology providers which are Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and C-DOT.
• In addition, Reliance JioInfocomm Limited will also be conducting trials using its own indigenous technology.
• The Communication Ministry said, at present, the duration of the trials is for a period of six months.
• This includes a time period of 2 months for procurement and setting up of the equipment.
• The permission letters specify that each TSP will have to conduct trials in rural and semi-urban settings also in addition to urban settings so that the benefit of 5G Technology proliferates across the country.
• The objectives of conducting 5G trials include testing 5G spectrum propagation characteristics especially in the Indian context, testing of indigenous technology and to test 5G phones and devices.

L&T will soon deliver 22 oxygen generators to hospitals across India

• Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said it will soon deliver 22 oxygen generators to various hospitals across India to address the severe crunch of oxygen for COVID-19 patients in the country “L&T will soon start delivering 22 oxygen generators to various hospitals in India, where the scarcity is most acute.
• These units will absorb air from the atmosphere before converting it into medical-grade oxygen and pumping it into pre-existing pipes in the hospitals,” the company said in a regulatory filing.
• L&T said of these, the parts of the first tranche of nine equipment will reach India by May 9.
• These will be progressively delivered from May 15 to hospitals that are in acute need and do not possess required infrastructure to receive bulk oxygen supply, the company added.

RBI governor announced that 2nd purchase of G-secs worth Rs 35,000 crore under G-SAP 1.0 on May 20

• RBI said the second purchase of government securities worth Rs 35,000 crore under the G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 1.0) will be done on May 20 for an orderly evolution of the yield curve as a fresh COVID-19 wave threatens to hit the economy.
• The first purchase of Rs 25,000 crore last month received enthusiastic response from the market, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said while announcing slew of measures to provide relief to various segments of the economy hit by the second wave of the pandemic.
• RBI will do a second purchase of government securities (G-secs) aggregating Rs 35,000 cr in two weeks, he said.
• To provide clarity on its bond-buying programme through open market operations (OMO), Das had announced Rs 1 lakh crore target for the first quarter under the new instrument called G-SAP 1.0.On the rate of price rise, he said, food and fuel inflation have pushed core inflation.
• Expected normal monsoon forecast should help contain food price inflation, he added.

Accenture vow USD 25 million for pandemic relief efforts in India

• Global IT and professional services company Accenture said it has pledged USD 25 million (about Rs 185 crore) for pandemic relief efforts in the country.
• This is in addition to the company’s ongoing investments in people and communities, Rekha M Menon, Chairperson and Senior Managing Director of Accenture in India, said in a blog post on LinkedIn.
• Local and global efforts are already underway including providing ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and medical kits, she added.
• “Accenture stands in solidarity with India.
• We have made a fresh pledge of USD 25 million (about Rs 185 crore) for pandemic relief efforts in addition to ongoing investments in our people and communities.
• Additionally, we will be augmenting existing hospitals with beds and ICUs and setting up portable hospitals,” she noted.

Bajaj Healthcare rollout generic favipiravir tablets for COVID-19 treatment

• Drug firm Bajaj Healthcare announced the launch of its antiviral Favipiravir tablets under the brand name ‘Favijaj’ used for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infections in the country.
• The company has received approval from India’s drug regulator DCGI to manufacture and market the tablets, Bajaj Healthcare said in a BSE filing.
• “We hope the availability of an effective treatment such as Favijaj will considerably ease the pressure and offer patients much-needed and timely therapy options,” Bajaj Healthcare Joint MD Anil Jain
• The company has successfully developed the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the formulation for favipiravir through its own in-house R&D team, Bajaj Healthcare
• Shares of Bajaj Healthcare closed at Rs 583.05 per scrip on BSE, up steep 10.85 percent from its previous close.

Samsung vow $5mn, Paytm to set up oxygen plants to support COVID-19 relief efforts

• Tech giant Samsung said it has pledged USD 5 million (Rs 37 crore), while Paytm Foundation intends to set up oxygen plants in 12-13 cities as part of efforts to support India”s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Samsung will donate USD 3 million to the Centre and states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and provide USD 2 million worth of medical supplies, including 100 Oxygen Concentrators, 3,000 Oxygen Cylinders, and one million LDS syringes (to Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu), a statement said.
• LDS or Low Dead Space syringes minimize the amount of drug left in the device after injection, optimizing vaccine usage.
• The technology has demonstrated up to 20 percent greater efficiency and if existing syringes were to deliver one million doses, LDS syringes could deliver 2 million doses with the same amount of vaccine.
• Samsung has helped the manufacturer of these syringes increase production capacity, the statement said.

Serum Institute CEO to invest over USD 300 million in UK, may make inoculations

• Serum Institute of India is set to invest in facilities in Britain and could even manufacture inoculations in the UK in future, Prime Minister Boris Johnson
• Johnson’s Downing Street office said the GBP 240 million (USD 334 million) projects would include a sales office, “clinical trials, research and development and possibly manufacturing of vaccines”.
• The Serum Institute of India (SII) is the world’s largest vaccine maker by volume, and has been at the forefront of producing the lower-cost AstraZeneca coronavirus
• SII has also begun phase one trials in the UK of a one-dose nasal vaccine for coronavirus.
• Downing Street said the vaccine maker’s plans were part of a wider package of trade and investment deals with India worth GBP 1 billion that it expects to create over 6,500 jobs.
• It was announced ahead of virtual talks between Johnson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS

RM Sundaram appointed as Director of Indian Institute of Rice Research

• Raman MeenakshiSundaram has been appointed as Director of Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), an arm of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
• Prior to this elevation, he was working as Principal Scientist (Biotechnology) at the institute’sCrop Improvement Section.
• “He put in 23 years at the institute.
• He is a scientist of global repute working in the area of rice biotechnology, molecular breeding, and genomics and has over 160 research papers in national and international journals of repute and has published several books, book chapters and popular articles.
• Sundaram’s research accomplishments include the development of one of the first biotechnology products in rice, Improved Samba Mahsuri, which is high yielding, is of fine-grain type, has a low glycaemic index and is highly resistant to bacterial blight, it said.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Singer Pink bags Icon Award at Billboard Music Awards

• Singer Pink will be honoured with the Icon Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs).
• The award aims to recognize artists who have achieved success on the Billboard charts and left an indelible impact on music.
• Pink joins previous honourees that include Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cher, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Garth Brooks.
• “As a little girl, I always dreamed about being a singer and sharing my love of music with the world,” the 41-year-old singer, who is the youngest recipient to date, said in a statement.
• “Years later, to receive the Billboard Music Awards Icon Award is hard to fathom! I feel so honoured to join the ranks of music idols like Cher, Garth Brooks, Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder.

Odisha CM announces International award in memory of Manoj Das

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced ‘Manoj Das International Literary Award’ in memory of the great litterateur who passed away at a hospital in Puducherry on April 27.
• The international award with prize money of Rs 10 lakh will be given to Odia writers for their creative writing in English every year.
• The Chief Minister also announced ‘Manoj Kishore Sahitya Prativa Samman’ to create interest among youths for literature.
• The award will be given at the high school level for original creative writing in Odia and English.
• The prize money for the awards will be Rs 1 lakh each. 
• Similarly, the ancestral house of Das will be taken over by the State government and converted to ‘Manmath-Manoj’ memorial as per a proposal of family members in memory of the two illustrious brothers, eminent historian Manmath Nath Das and legendary writer Manoj Das.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU’s AND AGREEMENTS

India, UK elevate bilateral ties to adopt comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Roadmap 2030  

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson have adopted an ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’ to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.
• The Roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health.
• In a Virtual Summit held, the two leaders discussed the Covid19 situation and ongoing cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, including the successful partnership on vaccines.
• Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Johnson for the prompt medical assistance provided by the UK in the wake of the severe second wave of Covid19 in India.
• Prime Minister Johnson appreciated India’s role in extending assistance to the UK and other countries over the last year, including by way of supply of pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ARTS & CULTURE

Mountains to Mangroves – A Journey of 1000 Kilometers Webinar Launched     

• On April 24, 2021, The Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series held its 86th webinar titled Mountains to Mangroves: A Journey of 1000 Kilometers.
• The DekhoApnaDesh Webinar Series is presented in technical partnership with the National e Governance Department, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• The objective of these Webinars is to promote various tourism destinations of India – including the lesser known destinations and lesser known facets of popular destinations.
• The Webinars include glimpses of the culture, heritage, handicrafts and cuisine of the destinations, in addition to the tourist spots. Concepts of Responsible Tourism, Accessible Tourism, Wildlife, Trekking, Bicycling and MotorCycle Tours, etc. have also been promoted through the Webinars.
• Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.
• The Webinar was presented by Shri Debajit Dutta, Director &CEO of Impression Tourism Services (India) Private Limited, expert in experiential tours, adventure tours and offers voluntary Project services & community tourism initiatives as a part of sustainable tourism practice.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

World Snooker Championship: Mark Selby becomes World Snooker Champion for Fourth Time

• In Snooker, Mark Selby became the World Champion for the fourth time.
• It took place from 17 April to 3 May 2021 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
• Selby won the Championship defeating Shaun Murphy by 18-15 victory at professional snooker tournament.
• He has now moved up to second spot in world rankings, next only to Judd Trump.
• Prior to this, Selby won the Championship title in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Aeronautical Scientist Manas Bihari Verma Passes Away

• On May 03, 2021, The Indian aeronautical scientist, Manas Bihari Verma Passed away.
• He was 78.

About Manas Bihari Verma :

• He played a key role in the development of the country’s first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’,
• He worked as a scientist at the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) for 35 years in the aeronautical stream.
• He was given the responsibility for the design of the Tejas aircraft mechanical system, where he led the team responsible for the full-scale engineering development of the Tejas aircraft in the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
• Verma had launched “Mobile Science Laboratory” (MSL) vans in 2010 in the rural areas of Bihar to impart knowledge in science to children.
• He retired as Director of ADA in 2005.

Achievements :

• He was conferred with Padma Shri award in March 2018.

Former J&K Governor Jagmohan passes away

• On May 04, 2021, Former Union Minister and Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Jagmohan passed away in New Delhi.
• He was 94.

About Jagmohan :

• He served as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and Goa.
• He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha once and represented New Delhi in Lok Sabha thrice.
• He served as the Union Minister for Communications, Urban Development, Tourism and Culture.
• Jagmohan served two terms as Jammu and Kashmir Governor, once from 1984 to 1989, and then from January 1990 to May 1990.

Achievements :

• He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1971, Padma Bhushan in 1977 and Padma Vibhushan in 2016.

Daily CA On May 04 :

• “The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”, underlines the indisputable importance of verified and reliable information.
• International Firefighters’ Day is observed on May 4. It was instituted after a proposal was emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual Summit with his British counterpart Boris Johnson.
• Government has issued guidelines for ‘Production Linked Incentive Scheme for the Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI). 
• Government has said that a vial for Remdesivir injection by the name ‘COVIPRI’ which is in circulation is fake.
• Australian Government has pledged 7 billion Australian dollars in childcare subsidies to boost female participation in the workplace.
• In Kerala, the CPM led LDF is all set to form the new government. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan handed over his resignation letter to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.
• Serum Institute of India (SII) endorsed the government statement that 100 per cent advance of Rs 1,732.50 crore has been released to the company on April 28 for 11 crore doses of the Covishield vaccine for May, June and July.
• Foreign and development ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrial nations will be meeting in London this week in their first face-to-face discussions in two years, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holding talks with British host Dominic Raab.
• PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, said it has partnered with not-for-profit organisation, Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) to launch a community COVID-19 vaccination drive and set up COVID care centres.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of 3 crore on ICICI Bank for non-compliance with its directions in the matter of shifting of securities from one category to another.
• IDBI Bank is considering picking up a stake in the National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) which is being set up jointly by banks to clean up their books.
• Airtel Payments Bank announced that customers with savings account deposits of over Rs 1 lakh will get an increased interest rate of 6 per cent per annum.
• Ola Electric announced the appointment of Wayne Burgess as Head of Vehicle Design for its entire product range, including scooters, bikes, cars and more.
• JSW Renew Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSWFuture Energy, has signed agreement with Solar Energy Corporation of India to sell 540 MW of the overall awarded capacity of 810 MW.
• On May 03, 2021, Motilal Oswal Private Equity picked up a minority stake in Fincare Small Finance Bank through a secondary acquisition worth around Rs 185 crore (USD 25 million).
• The world’s largest aeroplane, designed to transport hypersonic vehicles and facilitate easy access to space, soared into clear skies over California’s Mojave Desert.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an Assam-based trust the opportunity to focus on a near-forgotten form of string puppetry called Putola Nach.
• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) won the 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix. It was held on 2 May 2021 at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal.
• On May 03, 2021, Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera announced his retirement from international cricket.
• On April 30, 2021, ‘Shooter Dadi’ Chandro Tomar passed away.

Daily CA On May 05 :

• World Asthma Day (WAD) is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma, (GINA) (ginasthma.org), a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993.  This year’s World Asthma Day theme is “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions”.
• Every year, Coal Miners Day is observed on May 4 for the toughest professionals and the miners working in coal fields. 
• Each year, May 5is marked as the International Midwife Day in order to recognize the contribution of midwives.
• Every year, the World Hand Hygiene Day is observed on May 5.
• Government has said that about 65 per cent more wheat has been procured during the current Rabi Marketing Season in comparison to the corresponding period last year. 
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell have reaffirmed commitment to support Afghanistan in its path towards peace, security, self-reliance and prosperity.
• India has scaled another peak in its effort to contain the COVID-19 virus with the administration of more than 16 Crore four lakh vaccine doses so far to its citizens.
• Government said that 28 States and Union Territories have started lifting food grains from Food Corporation of India depots for free distribution of food grains to the poor under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who is on a four day visit to the UK, held a meeting with Home Secretary Priti Patel in London.
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remotely flagged off the first supply of UCO, Used Cooking Oil based Biodiesel blended Diesel from Indian Oil’s Tikrikalan Terminal, Delhi.
• The Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports have tapped into the spirit of International Day of Yoga to encourage the public to pursue Yoga as a daily routine for good health and well-being.
• The US government has approved a major solar energy project in the California desert that will be capable of powering nearly 90,000 homes.
• The European Union Commission has recommended easing restrictions on non-essential travel from overseas for those who received the last dose of an EU-approved vaccine.
• In Madhya Pradesh, 379 crore rupees have been transferred into the accounts of 16 thousand 844 beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Jan-Kalyan Sambal scheme.
• TMC leader Mamata Banerjee will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third time.
• The Nation’s first ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ was inaugurated by MP Rahul Shewale in Mumbai.
• The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that all ration card holders in the National Capital will be given free ration for the next 2 months.
• Government has given permissions to Telecom Service Providers for conducting trials for use and applications of 5G technology.
• Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said it will soon deliver 22 oxygen generators to various hospitals across India to address the severe crunch of oxygen for COVID-19 patients in the country “L&T will soon start delivering 22 oxygen generators to various hospitals in India, where the scarcity is most acute.
• RBI said the second purchase of government securities worth Rs 35,000 crore under the G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 1.0) will be done on May 20 for an orderly evolution of the yield curve as a fresh COVID-19 wave threatens to hit the economy.
• Global IT and professional services company Accenture said it has pledged USD 25 million (about Rs 185 crore) for pandemic relief efforts in the country.
• Drug firm Bajaj Healthcare announced the launch of its antiviral Favipiravir tablets under the brand name ‘Favijaj’ used for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infections in the country.
• Tech giant Samsung said it has pledged USD 5 million (Rs 37 crore), while Paytm Foundation intends to set up oxygen plants in 12-13 cities as part of efforts to support India”s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Serum Institute of India is set to invest in facilities in Britain and could even manufacture inoculations in the UK in future, Prime Minister Boris Johnson
• Raman MeenakshiSundaram has been appointed as Director of Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), an arm of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
• Singer Pink will be honoured with the Icon Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs).
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson have adopted an ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’ to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.
• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced ‘Manoj Das International Literary Award’ in memory of the great litterateur who passed away at a hospital in Puducherry on April 27.
• On April 24, 2021, The Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series held its 86th webinar titled Mountains to Mangroves: A Journey of 1000 Kilometers.
• In Snooker, Mark Selby became the World Champion for the fourth time.
• On May 03, 2021, The Indian aeronautical scientist, Manas Bihari Verma Passed away.
• On May 04, 2021, Former Union Minister and Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Jagmohan passed away in New Delhi.