Current Affairs 22nd May 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for Biological Diversity – Observed on May 22

• The International Day for Biological Diversity is a United Nations–sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues.
• It is currently held on May 22.
• The themefor this year’s (2021) IDB is “We’re part of the solution”.
• This year’s slogan is a continuation of 2020 theme– “Our solutions are in nature”.
• This serves as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.
• The International Day for Biological Diversity falls within the scope of the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

N S Tomar introduces National Mobile Monitoring Software app

• Rural Advancement Minister Narendra Singh Tomar now launched Nationwide Cellular Checking Application, NMMS app and Space officer checking Application via Movie-Conferencing.
• The NMMS App permits having true time attendance of employees at Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksites along with geotagged photographs, which will increase citizen oversight of the programme apart from possibly enabling processing payments faster.
• Space Officer Monitoring Application facilitates them to document their conclusions on the internet along with time stamped and go-coordinate tagged photographs for all the techniques of the Department of Rural Development. 
• This will help not only improve documents trying to keep off inspections by field and supervisory officials but also aid analysis of the conclusions for far better programme implementation.

 DRDO lab develops antibody detection-based kit ‘DIPCOVAN’

• A lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a Covid-19 antibodydetection-based kit called DIPCOVAN.
• The kit can detect coronavirus spikes as well as the nucleocapsid proteins of the virus.
• DRDO stated that “The kit can detect spike as well as nucleocapsid (S&N) proteins of SARS-CoV-2 virus with a high sensitivity of 97% & specificity of 99%”.
• The DIPCOVAN kit was developed indigenously by the scientists followed by extensive validation on more than one thousand patient samples at various COVID designated hospitals in Delhi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Maharashtra unveiled “Mission Oxygen Self-Reliance”

• Maharashtra government has launched the “Mission Oxygen Self-Reliance” scheme to meet the state’s oxygen needs.
• Special incentives will be given to oxygen producing industries under this scheme.
• At present the state’s oxygen generation capacity is 1300 MT per day.
• In order to meet the increasing demand, the state government has declared few incentives to meet the target of producing 3000 MT of oxygen per day.

About Maharashtra:

• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief minister: Uddhav Thackeray
• Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Hero Group introduces ed-tech platform ‘Hero Vired’

• The Hero Grouphas announced the launch of Hero Vired, a new edtech company.
• The edtechventure will offer an end-to-end learning ecosystem.
• It will make the learners industry-ready for the emerging jobs and professions.
• The space already includes startups, like upGrad, Udemy, Great Learning, Simplilearn, among others.
• Besides upGrad, Hero Vired will have to also compete with startups that have a differentiated model in skill development, including Matrix Partners-backed Pesto Tech, Sequoia-funded Scaler Academy, and Y Combinator-backed Lambda School in the global market.

About Hero Vired:

• Founder and CEO: Akshay Munjal
• Headquarters: New Delhi

Cipla unveiled RT-PCR test kit ‘ViraGen’ in India partnership with Ubio Biotech

• Drug major Cipla announced the commercialization of its RT-PCR test kit ‘ViraGen’ for COVID-19 in India, in partnership with Ubio Biotechnology Systems.
• “This launch will help address the current testing services and capacity issues while reaffirming the company’s ongoing expansion in the diagnostic space”.
• The company will commence supply of the COVID-19 virus detection kit from May 25, 2021.

About Cipla:

• MD and Global CEO: Umang Vohra
• Headquarters: Mumbai

MG Motor India introduced for free online medical consultation platform for customers

• MG Motor India launched a platform for free online medical consultation with doctors for its customers as part of its COVID-19 relief initiatives.
• To avail of the 24×7 service, customers have to register themselves on the carmaker’s website or through the MY MG APP.
• Through MG Healthline, MG customerscan avail of free consultation with highly qualified doctors for themselves or their family members.
• MG MotorIndia Chief Commercial Officer and Senior Vice President Gaurav Gupta mentioned, “The initiative under our overall community service umbrella MG Sewa is to support and provide a helping hand to our customers in these challenging times.”

About MG Motors:

• MG Motor India, often stylized as Morris Garages, is the Indian subsidiary of Chinese automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor.
• Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana , India
• President and Managing Director: Rajeev Chaba

Microsoft decided to retire Internet Explorer browser on June 15, 2022

• Internet Explorer was once the most widely used web browser, obtaining a peak of about 95 percent usage share by 2003.
• Microsoft has announced to retire its iconic Internet Explorer (IE) browser in June 2022, as it envisions the future of Internet Explorer, which was launched in 1995, on Windows 10 in Microsoft
• Over the last year, Microsoft is moving away from Internet Explorer support, such as an announcement of the end of IE support by Microsoft 365 online services.
• The company stated that, “With Microsoft Edge capable of assuming this responsibility and more, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10”.

About Microsoft:

• CEO: Satya Nadella
• Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

Equitas became first SFB to offer NRIs online account opening facility

• Equitas Small Finance Bank has touched a new milestone by becoming the first Small Finance Bank to offer its NRI customer segment the ease of account opening online.
• The bank will also be the only one in the SFB space to have virtual relationship managers based on time zones, it claimed.
• The company will also be the only one in the Small Finance Bank sector to have Virtual Relationship Managers based on time zones.
• Murali Vaidyanathan, President & Country Head, Branch Banking Liabilities Product & Wealth Equitas Small Finance noted that, “The Digitization of Banking at ESFB has helped to offer the services at the convenience, safety and wellbeing of our customers and employees being our paramount concern.

About Equitas SFB:

• Equitas Small Finance Bank is a small finance bank founded in 2016 by Equitas as a microfinance lender.
• The bank has headquarters in Chennai, India.
• MD and CEO of the Bank: Vasudevan Pathangi Narasimhan

RBI imposes monetary penalty on City Union Bank, 3 other lenders

• The RBIhas imposed monetary penalty on City Union Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank and two other lenders for contravention of certain directions issued by the central bank non-compliance with certain provisions contained in the RBI (Lending to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector) Directions, 2017 and the circulars on Educational Loan Scheme and Credit Flow to Agriculture – Agricultural Loans – Waiver of Margin/Security Requirements.
• The RBIhas imposed Rs 1 crore monetary penalty on City Union Bank.
• RBI said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank.
• The central bank imposed a penalty of Rs 90 lakh on Nutan Nagarik Sahakari Bank, Ahmedabad
• The apex bank has also imposed monetary penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Daimler Financial Services India Private Limited, Pune 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS

Essence brings Sonali Malaviya on board as the MD

• Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency which is part of GroupM, announced the appointment of Sonali Malaviyaas the agency’s managing director for India.
• She will be responsible for leading the agency’s business growth in the market.

About Essence:

• Essence is a global data and measurement-driven full service agency.
• The agency has 20 offices in 12 countries and a staff of approximately 1,900.
• Essence, part of GroupM, is a global data and measurement-driven media agency whose mission is to make brands more valuable to the world.
• Clients include Google, Flipkart, NBCUniversal, L’Oreal, and the Financial Times.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

INS Rajput, Indian Navy’s first destroyer, to be decommissioned 

• On May 21, 2021, INS Rajput, the first destroyer of the Indian Navy, will be decommissioned after over 41 years of service.
• It was the lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR.
• The ship had the motto “Raj Karega Rajput’’
• INS Rajput was constructed in the 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolaev (present-day Ukraine) under her original Russian name ‘Nadezhny’ meaning ‘Hope’.
• The ship was commissioned as INS Rajput on May 4, 1980 at Poti, Georgia by I K Gujral, the then Ambassador of India to USSR.
• Captain Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani as her first Commanding Officer.
• The ship participated in several operations aimed at keeping the nation secure and also participated in numerous bilateral and multinational exercises.
• It was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment, the Rajput Regiment.

About Indian Navy :

• Founded: 26 January 1950
• Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS): Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar
• Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS): Vice Admiral S. Pawar
• Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh
• Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ENVIRONMENT

Cyclone Tauktae makes landfall in Gujarat

• In the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, Indian Meteorological Department Informed that Tauktae the extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm  made landfall.
• It is Formed in the Arabian Sea.
• It mainly causes damage to the states of Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Daman & Diu.
• The Cyclone Cause Several rains, and winds upto 150-160 kmph.

About Tauktae :

• The Cyclone name given by Myanmar, it means gecko.

About IMD :

• The India Meteorological Department is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1875
• Director General : Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

Women’s Champions League trophy – Barcelona beats Chelsea to win    

• For the first time in the club’s history, Barcelona beat Chelsea 4-0 to win the Women’s Champions League
• In Gothenburg, the first 36 minutes, Chelsea conceded four goals as Barcelona blew them away to win their first Women’s Champions League.

About Barcelona :

• Barcelona becomes the first club to win both mens and womens Champion League.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Noted Environmentalist, Sunderlal Bahuguna Passes away   

• On May 21, 2021, Noted environmentalist and Gandhian activist, Sunderlal Bahuguna Passed away.
• He was 94.

About Sunderlal Bahuguna :

• He was the leader of the Chipko Movement.
• The first Chipko action took place in April 1973 in Mandal village, now in Uttarakhand, and spread over many Himalayan districts.

Achievements :

• In 2009, he was honoured with India’s second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan.

About Chipko movement :

• Chipko movement was one of the strongest movements to conserve forests and trees in India from cutting by forest contractors.
• Chipko means hug.

Daily CA On May 21 :

• World Bee Day is celebrated on May 20. The theme of World Bee Day 2021 is: Bee Engaged – Build Back Better for Bees.
• World Metrology Day is an event occurring on 20 May celebrating the International System of Units. The theme for World Metrology Day 2021 is “Measurement for Health”.
• Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 in India every year. This year commemorates Rajiv Gandhi’s 30th death anniversary as India observes Anti-Terrorism Day.
• National Endangered Species Dayis observed every year on the third Friday in May. This year the day falls on May The theme for National Endangered Species Day 2021 is “Wildlife without Borders”.
• International Tea Day is observed annually on May 21, according to the United Nations. The resolution was adopted on December 21, 2019 and calls on the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to lead the observance of the Day.
• The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a United Nations–sanctioned international holiday for the promotion of diversity issues. It is currently celebrated on May 21.
• On the occasion of World Bee Day and in the context of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the project of setting up of a honey testing laboratoryat the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, and New Delhi.  
• Govt revises subsidy on export of sugar for sugar season 2020-21 from Rs 6000 to Rs 4000 per metric tonne. 
• Harshvardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare chaired the opening session of the 33rd meeting of Health Ministers of Commonwealth countries through video conference.
• Hindustan UnileverLimited has rolled out Mission HO2PE in Assam. Through Mission HO2PE, HUL has airlifted over 5000 oxygen concentrators into India.
• India’s national broadcaster, Doordarshan (DD) is going to set up a new international channel, DD International, on the lines of BBC World to present India’s point of view to the world in wake of the rising negative coverage of India’s COVID-19 crisis in foreign media.
• Zhang Yiming announced he will step down as CEOof TikTok–owner ByteDance, saying he lacked the social skills to be an ideal manager and naming his college roommate Liang Rubo as his successor to navigate a rising tide of Big Tech regulations.
• Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina gave away the highest civilian award of Bangladesh ‘Swadhinta Puraskar 2021‘ also known as Independence Award to nine individuals and a research organisation.
• India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military cooperation along with its annexure as well as on maritime issues on May 20″. The document was signed by Secretary-General of Oman”s defence ministry Dr Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi and Indian Ambassador Munu Mahawar.
• For Indian Army , Bharat Earth Movers limited has rolled out the first prototype of mechanical minefield marking equipment Mk-II. It has been built on BEML TATRA 6×6 an ‘Atmanirbhar’ product.
• On May 18, 2021, Google launched its global licensing programme, News Showcase, in India. Amid mounting pressure from the global media fraternity asked for a fair price and advertising share from technology platforms.
• James Webb Space Telescope , The world’s largest and most powerful space science telescope Successfully Completed its Pre Launch Test. This event marked a key milestone in preparing the observatory for launch later this year.
• India is the second largest  insurance technology market in the Asia Pacific, as per a new report released by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
• Barbora Strycova, a former top-ranked doubles player and Wimbledon singles semifinalist, has announced retirement from Tennis.
• On May 19, 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Ashely de Silva Informed Due to Covid – 19 the Asia Cup T20 that was scheduled to be held in June 2021 in Sri Lanka has been postponed indefinitely.
• On May 19, 2021, Veteran Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Jagannath Pahadia Passed away.

Daily CA On May 22 :

• The International Day for Biological Diversity is a United Nations–sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues. It is currently held on May 22. The themefor this year’s (2021) IDB is “We’re part of the solution”.
• Rural Advancement Minister Narendra Singh Tomar now launched Nationwide Cellular Checking Application, NMMS app and Space officer checking Application via Movie-Conferencing.
• A lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a Covid-19 antibodydetection-based kit called DIPCOVAN.
• Maharashtra government has launched the “Mission Oxygen Self-Reliance” scheme to meet the state’s oxygen needs.
• The Hero Grouphas announced the launch of Hero Vired, a new edtech company. The edtech venture will offer an end-to-end learning ecosystem.
• Drug major Cipla announced the commercialization of its RT-PCR test kit ‘ViraGen’ for COVID-19 in India, in partnership with Ubio Biotechnology Systems.
• MG Motor India launched a platform for free online medical consultation with doctors for its customers as part of its COVID-19 relief initiatives.
• Internet Explorer was once the most widely used web browser, obtaining a peak of about 95 percent usage share by 2003.
• Equitas Small Finance Bankhas touched a new milestone by becoming the first Small Finance Bank to offer its NRI customer segment the ease of account opening online.
• The RBIhas imposed monetary penalty on City Union Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank and two other lenders for contravention of certain directions issued by the central bank non-compliance with certain provisions contained in the RBI (Lending to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector) Directions, 2017
• Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency which is part of GroupM, announced the appointment of Sonali Malaviyaas the agency’s managing director for India.
• On May 21, 2021, INS Rajput, the first destroyer of the Indian Navy, will be decommissioned after over 41 years of service. It was the lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR. The ship had the motto “Raj Karega Rajput’’
• In the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, Indian Meteorological Department Informed that Tauktae the extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm  made landfall. It is Formed in the Arabian Sea.
• For the first time in the club’s history, Barcelona beat Chelsea 4-0 to win the Women’s Champions League
• On May 21, 2021, Noted environmentalist and Gandhian activist, Sunderlal Bahuguna Passed away.