Current Affairs May 20th 2022| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day:

• World AIDS Vaccine Day, also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), is observed annually on May 18th around the world to raise awareness and provide information about Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a chronic, possibly deadly condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and its immunisation.

HISTORY:

• World AIDS Vaccine Day was inspired from former United States President Bill Clinton’s speech on May 18, 1997, at Morgan State University in Maryland, United States of America (USA).
• The first World AIDS Vaccine Day, also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, was commemorated on May 18, 1998, to commemorate US President Bill Clinton’s 1997 announcement.

Additional Info.

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), United States of America, is organizing the celebration of this day.
• The Red Ribbon is a globally recognised AIDS awareness symbol.
• It is worn to show support for persons living with HIV and to remember those who have died as well.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister unveiled India’s first 5G testbed, which is anticipated to cost Rs 220 crore:

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled India’s first 5G testbed, allowing startups and industry companies to test and certify their technology in-house rather than relying on foreign facilities.
• The testbed cost roughly Rs 220 crore to build.
• While addressing the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s silver jubilee celebrations, the Prime Minister stated that the 5G testbed is a big step toward self-reliance in the direction of crucial and modern technology.

About 5G Network:

• The 5G testbed was developed as a joint effort by eight institutes, led by IIT Madras.
• Because the United States lacked a 5G testbed, entrepreneurs and other industry players had to travel abroad to test and certify their products before they could be deployed on a 5G network.
• Other institutes involved in the research were IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), and Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology.

Supreme Court has ordered the release of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination suspect:

• The Supreme Court applied Article 142 of the Constitution to extend exceptional powers to AG Perarivalan, a convict in the killing of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, to “perform thorough justice in any cause or issue standing before it”.
• A bench of justices led by Mr L.N. Rao and Mr B.R. Gavai discharged Perarivalan after considering his lengthy detention.

About Perarivalan

• Perarivalan was imprisoned in solitary confinement for 29 of his 32 years before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in March 2022.
• He was on death row for 16 years when the court reduced his sentence to life in prison in 2014.
• The court further noted that Perarivalan had filed his Article 161 clemency petition with the Tamil Nadu Governor in 2015 and that the state cabinet had directed the state’s chief executive to accept it in September 2018.

Case History:

• On May 21, 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bombing at a rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
• Perarivalan was arrested on June 11, 1991, at the age of 19.
• On January 28, 1998, 26 people, including Perarivalan and his co-accused Nalini, were sentenced to death.
• Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, and Nalini’s death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court on May 11, 1999.

Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw established the NIELIT Center in Leh, Ladakh:

• Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Cabinet Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Communications, and Railways, has inaugurated the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) Centre Leh, Extension Centre Kargil, and IT Enabled Incubation Centre for Handicraft and Handloom Sector.

Additional Info.:

• While inaugurating the NIELIT Centres in Leh and Kargil, as well as the Incubation Centre in Leh, Union Minister Shri. Ashwini Vaishnaw reaffirmed the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s commitment to the development of the UT of Ladakh.
• The road of development in this area has opened up significantly with the repeal of Article 370 and the formation of the new UT.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology would instantly approve any proposal about IT Education, Training, and Incubation for the development of the UT of Ladakh.
• He also commended NIELIT for establishing the Leh and Kargil Centres, as well as the IT, Enabled Incubation Centre in record time, which should be expanded at a faster rate.

West Central Railway has created the Navdoot, a battery-powered dual-mode locomotive:

• West Central Railway has created the Navdoot, a battery-powered dual-mode locomotive.
• This engine operates in two modes: battery and electricity.
• It is now being trialled during train shunting at Jabalpur, Mudwara, and other stations.
• The Railway Board also awarded this Dual Mode Locomotive the Best Innovation Award.
• With this new locomotive, railways will save 1000 litres of diesel every day.
• It will be utilised more widely once all of the trials are completed.

About Navdoot:

• This engine operates in two modes: battery and electricity.
• This e-engine has a top speed of 30 kmph and can pull 18 coaches.
• It currently has 84 batteries and a capacity of 400 tonnes.
• The Electric Department of New Katni Junction created this.
• After passing all testing, it will be utilised more widely at other stations for purposes such as transporting products, coal, oil tankers, etc…,

About The West Central Railway

• Headquarters: Jabalpur
• Founded: 1 April 2003

The Prime Minister’s Office panel suggests an urban job guarantee scheme:

• The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has proposed that the government adopt a guaranteed employment programme for city residents as well as a universal basic income (UBI) scheme to eliminate income gaps.
• The research advised raising the minimum wage and expanding government investment in the social sector to make vulnerable groups more robust to shocks and prevent them from falling into poverty, citing the country’s uneven income distribution.

About The Report:

• Given the disparity in labour force participation rates between rural and urban areas, the urban equivalent of demand-based and guaranteed employment programmes such as MGNREGS should be implemented so that surplus labour can be rehabilitated, according to the report titled “The State of Inequality in India.”
• It went on to say that raising the minimum wage and instituting universal basic income are two proposals that can help bridge the income gap and ensure that salaries are allocated fairly in the labour market.

EAC-PM Statement:

• According to the EAC-PM, the most important aspect of defining poverty in a multidimensional context is documenting the mobility into and out of poverty.
• The wealthiest 1% of the population had 6-7% of total income produced in the three years to 2019-20, according to the results of the three rounds of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), with the top 10% possessing a third.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy:

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established the Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy and addressed it to the startup community via video conferencing at the Madhya Pradesh Startup Conclave in Indore.
• The Prime Minister also unveiled the Madhya Pradesh Startup Portal, which would help and promote the state’s startup environment.

About the Startups:

• The event will be attended by Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as well as key officials and entrepreneurs.
• According to the official, Madhya Pradesh has 1,937 start-ups recognised by the Union government, with women running 45 per cent of them.
• Various pillars of the startup ecosystem will be represented at the Madhya Pradesh Startup Conclave, including government and private sector policymakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, academicians, investors, mentors, and other stakeholders.

Sessions included:

• A rapid mentorship event in which startups interacted with an educational institution and startup community leaders.
• A discussion on how to create a startup in which policymakers helped companies.
• Entrepreneurs learned about several funding methods during a funding session.
• A pitching session where startups could work with investors and offer their ideas for funding.
• An ecosystem support session in which officials guided startups.

After the covid-19 pandemic, a new virus known as tomato flu was discovered in southern India:

• Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a new infection has been detected in parts of Kerala.
• According to the reports, this dangerous virus has hit almost 80 children in the Kollam city of Kerala to date and it continues to rise.
• It is targeting children below the age of five years.

Tomato flu:

• Tomato flu or Tomato fever is a deadly virus that has been detected majorly in the southern part of the country.
• Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the main states which have registered many cases from their local government hospitals of this unidentified flu.
• To prevent this, local Aganwadi centres in the areas are shut and new campaigns related to its awareness have started, where a team of 24 members is formed.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Kerala to launch India’s 1st state-owned OTT platform

• The Government of Kerala will launch a first-of-its-kind initiative state-owned over-the-top (OTT) platform, named ‘CSpace’, on November 1 (coinciding with the Kerals’s formation day ).
• The Platform offers film lovers an array of movies, short films and documentaries of their choice.
• The name of the OTT platform as CSpace, revealed by Minister for Cultural Affairs Shri Saji Cheriyan.
• The platform is an initiative of Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) on behalf of the state government, through video conferencing at a function in Kalabhavan Theater.
• The registration of films to be streamed on CSpace will begin on June 1.

About Kerala :

• Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan

About KSFDC :

• Established : 1975
• Headquarters : Thiruvananthapuram
• Chairman :Shaji N Karun
• Managing Director : N Maya
• KSFDC is the first public sector corporation for film development in India.

India’s largest lithium-ion battery plant begins production in Gujarat

• Nexcharge, a joint venture between India’s Exide Industries Limited and Swiss-based Leclanché SA, has started the mass production of the nation’s largest lithium-ion battery packs at its factory in Prantij, Gujarat.
• The plant, which is spread across 6,10,098 sq ft (total area) is the largest in India for the production of li-ion battery packs and modules (pouch/ prismatic/ cylindrical).
• The facility has 6 fully automated assembly lines and testing labs with an installed capacity of 5 GWh and will cater energy storage systems for India’s electric vehicle market and grid-based applications.
• Nexcharge offers battery packs for many products including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, personal and commercial vehicles and inverters.
• Exide and Leclanche pumped in Rs 250 crore to set up the plant.
• Nexcharge can now make 3 V to 1000 V battery packs with sizes varying from 10 cm to 2 meter.

About Nexcharge :

• Headquarters : Prantij, Gujarat
• Chief Executive Officer : Stefan Louis
• President : Surender Narula

About Exide Industries Limited :

• Founded : 1947
• Headquarters : Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• Chairman : Bharat Dhirajlal Shah
• CEO : Subir Chakraborty
• Exide Industries Ltd, is an Indian multinational storage battery manufacturer and life insurance company.

About Leclanché SA :

• Founded : 1909
• Headquarters : Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
• CEO : Anil Srivastava

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI Notifies Rules to Strengthen Regulatory Framework for CIS

• The market regulator Securities and Exchange board of India (SEBI) has enhanced the net worth criteria and track record requirements to strengthen the regulatory framework for collective investment schemes.
• The rules, first notified in 1999, have not been reviewed since then.

Aim :

• To strengthen the regulatory framework for collective investment schemes as well as empowering the CIMCs to effectively discharge their responsibilities toward the investors.

About CIS :

• CIS is a pooled investment vehicle in closed-ended investment space and the units of the schemes are listed on an exchange.
• The structure of CIS is a two-tier one as there are two entities involved in the process the CIMC and trustees.

Eligibility criteria :

• Sebi stated that applicants or promoters should have a soundtrack record and a general reputation of fairness and integrity in all their business transactions.
• The applicant should have been carrying out business in the relevant field in which CIS schemes are proposed to be launched, for at least five years; net worth should be positive in all the immediately preceding five years and should have profits in three out of the five years.
• CIMCs are required to have a minimum net worth of Rs 50 crore as compared to the present requirement of Rs 5 crore.
• The applicant shall have a net worth not less than Rs 100 crore till it has profits for five consecutive years”, in case the requirements related to profit are not fulfilled.
• According to the new regulations, each CIS will have a minimum subscription amount of Rs 20 crore and each CIS needs to have a minimum of 20 investors and no single investor will hold more than 25 percent of the assets under management of such schemes.
• Currently, CIS rules do not mandate a minimum number of investors, maximum holding of a single investor, or minimum subscription amount.
• SEBI has put a cap on cross-shareholding in Collective Investment Management Company (CIMC) to 10 percent to avoid conflict of interest.
• Also, Sebi stated that CIS will not be open for subscription for more than 15 days & at present, the limit is for 90 days.

About SEBI :

• Established : 12 April 1988 and given Statutory Powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman : Madhabi Puri Buch

Banking Frauds dip 51% To Rs 40,295 Crore : RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India has stated Public sector banks reported over 51% dip in the amount involved in frauds to Rs 40,295.25 crore during the financial year ended March 2022.
• The 12 PSBs (Public Sector Banks) had reported frauds worth Rs 81,921.54 crore in preceding fiscal 2020-21.
• However, the number of fraud cases fell to 7,940 frauds reported by the PSBs in 2021-22, against 9,933 incidents reported in FY21.

12 PSB’s Fraud Data :

• Punjab National Bank (PNB) – Highest amount of Rs 9,528.95 crore (431 fraud cases)
• State Bank of India (SBI) – Rs 6,932.37 crore (4,192 cases)
• Bank of India (BoI0 – Rs 5,923.99 crore (209 cases)
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) – Rs 3,989.36 crore (280 cases)
• Union Bank of India (UBI) – Rs 3,939 crore (627 cases)
• Canara Bank – 3,230.18 crore (90 cases)
• Indian Bank – 2,038.28 crore (211 cases)
• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) – Rs 1,733.80 crore (312 cases)
• Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) – Rs 1,139.36 crore (72 cases)
• Central Bank of India – Rs 773.37 crore
• UCO Bank – Rs 611.54 crore (114 cases)
• Punjab & Sind Bank – Rs 455.04 crore (159 cases).
• RBI stated that the data may change subject to rectification/update made subsequent to the first reporting of banks (in respect of individual frauds).
• As per the RBI reply, the number of frauds worth less than Rs 1 lakh has been recorded from April 1, 2017.

About RBI :

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors :  Mahesh Kumar Jain,M. Rajeshwar Rao,Michael Patra and T. Rabi Shankar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

India is presently the largest recipient of international remittances:

• According to the World Bank, India will overtake Mexico as the top remittance-receiving country in 2021, relegating China to third place.
• In 2021, India received more than $89 billion in remittances, an increase of 8% above the $82.73 billion received in 2020.
• Even though the world was severely impacted by Covid in 2020, remittances were slightly greater than the non-Covid year of 2019.

About Remittances:

• Some of the rises can be attributed to the rupee’s depreciation against the dollar.
• Inbound remittances to India will rise further this year, boosted by one of the world’s lowest transaction costs.
• The average cost of transferring $200 was $6 worldwide, but it was the cheapest to send money to South Asia (4.3 per cent) and the most expensive to send money to Sub-Saharan Africa
• Remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are expected to increase by 4.2% to $ 630 billion in 2022.
• This comes on the heels of a significant 8.6% gain in 2021, when remittances totalled $605 billion, far exceeding the World Bank’s prediction.
• In 2021, remittances entering South Asia climbed by 6.9 percent.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

BSE appoints former RBI deputy governor S.S. Mundra as chairman

• The BSE Limited appointed Mr.Subhash Sheoratan Mundra, Public Interest Director as the Chairman of the board of directors of the company.
• He will replace Justice Vikramajit Sen.

About Mr S.S. Mundra :

• Mr Mundra, a Post Graduate from University of Poona, is a Fellow Member of Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (FIIB).
• Amity University has conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.), Honoris Causa, upon Mundra, in recognition of his services in the field of banking.
• In a banking career he has over four decades of experience & he has held several positions, including Executive Director of Union Bank of India, Chief Executive of Bank of Baroda (European Operations).
• He was Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of Baroda from where he superannuated in July 2014.
• He was on boards of several multi-dimensional companies, including Clearing Corporation of India Ltd and Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL).
• In July 2017, Mr. Mundra retired as Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India after a stint of three years.
• In January 2018, Mundra was  appointed as Public Interest Director at BSE.
• He served as RBI’s nominee on the Financial Stability Board (G20 Forum) and its various committees.
• He was also the Vice-chair of OECD’s International Network on Financial Education.

About BSE :

• BSE Limited, also known as the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
• Founded : 9 July 1875
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Ashish Chauhan

AP Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma gets 2nd tenure extension for 6 months

• The Center announced that the tenure of Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Mr Sameer Sharma is extended for another 6 months from May 21, 2022, to November 31, 2022.
• This is the 2nd tenture extension of Sameer Sharma as chief secretary.
• The Center accepted the state’s request and granted a second extension for a further 6 months relaxing Rule 16 (1) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, by invoking Rule 3 of AIS (Conditions of Service-Residuary Matters) Rules, 1960.

About Mr Sameer Sharma :

• Mr Sameer Sharma is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.
• Mr Sharma became the state Chief Secretary on September 30, 2021 and was supposed to retire from service on November 30, 2021.
• Earlier, the Center extended the tenure of Sameer Sharma by six months from 1 December to 31 May 2022.

Gram Unnati Appoints India’s Former Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora as Board’s New Chairman

• A full-stack agricultural value chain service provider Gram Unnati, has appointed Mr Sunil Arora, former chief election commissioner (CEC) as its board’s new chairman (non-executive).

About Mr Sunil Arora :

• Mr Sunil Arora is a 1980 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Rajasthan cadre with rich leadership experience spanning over 36 years.
• He has served as Secretary to two key ministries i.e. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• He is the chairman for Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).
• He has also served as the additional chief secretary (home) in the Rajasthan government.
• He has been on the board of various corporate entities, such as Barmer Mining and Lignite Company, Mahindra SEZ, and Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited.
• He was a former chairman and managing director of Indian Airlines from 2000 to 2005.
• He was the Principal Staff Officer of Chief Minister, Rajasthan from 2005-2009 as well as from 1993-1998.
• Mr Sunil Arora was the 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India.

About Gram Unnati :

• Founded : 2013
• CEO & Founder : Aneesh Jain
• Gram Unnati has a formidable advisory pool comprising seasoned agri professionals, ex-civil servants, and industry body representatives.
• It is a social venture that helps farmers increase their net income by increasing price realization, enhancing agricultural productivity, and lowering cultivation costs
• It operates through a network of 30 district-level centers spread across the nation, helping agro-processors source quality cereals, oilseeds, pulses, fruits & vegetables directly from farmers.

Airtel re-appoints Gopal Vittal as MD and CEO for 5 years

• Bharti Airtel has reappointed Mr Gopal Vittal as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executing Officer (CEO) for a further period of 5 years i.e. from February 01, 2023 to January 31, 2028.
• The reappointment came on a day the telco posted consolidated net profit at Rs 2,007.8 crore in the March quarter, up 141% sequentially and 164% on year. Analysts had estimated net profit of around Rs 1,970 crore.
• This was Airtel’s 6th successive quarter in the black after six straight losses earlier.

About Bharti Airtel :

• Founded : 7 July 1995
• Headquarters :  New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman & Founder  : Sunil Bharti Mittal
• It is the second largest mobile network operator in India and the second largest mobile network operator in the world.

Eicher Motors Appoints B Govindarajan as new CEO Of Royal Enfield

• The parent company of Royal Enfield, Eicher Motors Mr B Govindarajan as the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Enfield.
• Mr B Govindarajan will also serve as the Wholetime Director of the Board of Eicher Motors Limited.

About Mr B Govindarajan :

• Mr Govindarajan has been with Eicher Motors for more than 23 years.
• He was the Chief Operating Officer of the motorcycle brand since 2013.
• He played a key role in the development of the Himalayan, Continental GT 650 and Interceptor INT 650 and the recent J-platform based Meteor and Classic 350 models.
• Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as the Executive Director of Royal Enfield.

About Eicher Motors :

• Eicher is the parent company of Royal Enfield.
• Founded : 1948
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi,India
• Chairman : S Sandilya
• Managing Director : Siddhartha Lal

About Royal Enfield :

• Founded : 1955
• Headquarters : Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Royal Enfield is an Indian multinational motorcycle manufacturing company.

Naveen Srivastava appointed as India’s ambassador to Nepal

• India has appointed Seasoned diplomat Mr Naveen Srivastava as its new Ambassador to Nepal.
• Mr Srivastava succeeded Mr Vinay Kumar Kwatra, who completed his Nepal assignment in April after he was appointed foreign secretary.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the appointment of Naveen Srivastava a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Lumbini in Nepal.

About Mr Naveen Srivastava :

• Mr. Srivastava, a 1993 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
• Since 2020, he headed the East Asia division in the ministry, and has played a key role in diplomatic and military talks with China to tackle the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• He also served as consul general in Shanghai.
• Currently Mr Naveen Srivastava is an Additional Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry.

Additional Info :

• Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Indian environmental scientist Dr Kamal Bawa elected to U.S. National Academy of Sciences

• India-born conservation biologist Dr Kamal Bawa, has been elected to the US National Academy of Sciences.
• The election is the reaffirmation of our important work on the ecology, conservation, and management of tropical forests that are declining all over the world but are critical to humanity’s well-being.

About Dr Kamal Bawa :

• Dr Kamal Bawa is president of the Bengaluru-based Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE).
• He is an elected fellow of the Royal Society (London) and the American Philosophical Society.
• Earlier, Dr. Bawa brought together some scientists from India’s leading institutions to develop the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well Being under the banner of the Biodiversity Collaborative & it was supported by the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Indian government and is currently funded by the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.
• ATREE is well recognised for its work on assessing and managing biodiversity, climate change, and water.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : AWARDS & HONORS

Piramal Group chairman Ajay Piramal receives Order of the British Empire award

• Piramal Group chairman Mr Ajay Gopi Kishan Piramal has received an honorary commander of the order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty The Queen.
• Mr Piramal has received the award for services to the UK-India trade relationship as India Co-Chair of the UK-India CEO Forum.
• As co-chair of India-UK CEO forum since 2016, the endeavour has been to help strengthen the strong bilateral relations between the two countries through greater economic co-operation.

About Piramal Group :

• Founded : 1984
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• The Piramal Group is an Indian multinational diversified global business conglomerate that has presence across various sectors such as healthcare, life sciences, drug discovery, healthcare information management, financial services and real estate.

About honorary commander of the order of the British Empire (CBE) :

• The Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) is awarded for having a prominent role at national level.
• Established : 1917 by king George V

Cameroonian activist Cécile Ndjebet wins Wangari Maathai Forest Champions’ Award 2022

• Cameroon activist and board member of the African Forest Forum, Ms Cecil Ndjebet has won the 2022 Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award.
• The award was given for recognition of her outstanding contribution to preserving forests and improving the lives of people who depend on them.
• The award celebrates Cécile Ndjebet’s energy and dedication over three decades in promoting women’s rights to land and forests.
• The award is presented by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), which is chaired by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the award was conferred at a ceremony during the XV World Forestry Congress in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Previous Wangari Maathai Forest Champion Award winners :

• Nepalese community forestry movement leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha (2012)
• Mexican environmental campaigner Martha Isabel ‘Pati’ Ruiz Corzo (2014)
• Ugandan forestry activist Gertrude Kabusimbi Kenyangi (2015)
• Brazilian forestry activist Maria Margarida Ribeiro da Silva (2017)
• Burundian forestry activist Léonidas Nzigiyimpa (2019).

About Ms Cécile Ndjebet :

• Ms Cécile Ndjebet is an agronomist and social forester by profession.
• With 33 years of field experience, Cécile started her professional career as a Cameroonian civil servant.
• In 2009, she founded the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF), a regional network within 17 countries in West and Central Africa
• In 2012, she was elected Climate Change Champion of the Central African Commission on Forests (COMIFAC).

About Wangari Maathai Forest Champions’ Award :

• The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) launched the first Wangari Maathai Award in 2012 to honor the memory of Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai,
• The award recognizes outstanding individuals who have helped preserve, restore and sustainably manage forests and to raise awareness of the key role forests play in supporting local communities, rural livelihoods, women and the environment.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Launches India-made Warships INS Surat & INS Udaygiri

• Defence minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched two made-in-India warships ‘Surat’ and ‘Udaygiri’ at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• This is the first time that the two indigenously built warships have been launched together.
• Surat is the fourth guided missile destroyer of P15B class, while Udaygiri is the second stealth frigate of P17A class.
• Both warships have been designed in-house by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built at MDL, Mumbai.

About INS Surat :

• The ship ‘Surat’ is the fourth of Project 15B destroyers which heralds a significant makeover of the P15A (Kolkata Class) destroyers.
• It is named after the city Surat (capital of Gujarat) and also the second largest commercial hub of western India after Mumbai.
• Surat city has a rich maritime and shipbuilding history, and vessels built at the city during the 16th and 18th centuries were known for their longevity (of more than 100 years).
• The warship has been built using the block construction methodology which involved hull construction at two different geographical locations and has been joined together at Mazgaon Docks, Mumbai.
• The first ship of this class was commissioned in 2021.
• The project 15B class of ships are the next generation stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy being built at the Mazgaon Docks.

About INS Udaygiri :

• INS Udaygiri is the third ship under Project 17A Frigates, named after the mountain ranges in Andhra Pradesh.
• These are follow-on of the P17 frigates (Shivalik Class) with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.
• Around 75 percent of the orders for equipment and systems have been placed on indigenous firms including MSMEs which is a true testament of ‘Atmanirbharta’ in the country.

About MDL :

• Founded : 1934
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Chairman & MD : Narayan Prasad

DRDO & Indian Navy successfully test fires naval anti-ship missile off Odisha coast

• Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully conducted maiden flight-test of indigenously-developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile launched from a Naval Helicopter from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
• It is the first indigenous air launched anti-ship missile system for the Indian Navy.
• The missile followed the desired sea skimming trajectory and reached the designated target with high degree of accuracy, validating the control, guidance and mission algorithms.

About Ministry of defence :

• Defence Minister : Rajnath Singh
• Minister of state :Ajay Bhatt

About DRDO :

• Founded : 1958
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman : Dr G. Satheesh Reddy

About Indian Navy :

• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral R. Hari Kumar

Daily CA on May 20 :

• World AIDS Vaccine Day, also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), is observed annually on May 18th around the world to raise awareness and provide information about Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a chronic, possibly deadly condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and its immunisation.
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled India’s first 5G testbed, allowing startups and industry companies to test and certify their technology in-house rather than relying on foreign facilities.
• The Supreme Court applied Article 142 of the Constitution to extend exceptional powers to AG Perarivalan, a convict in the killing of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, to “perform thorough justice in any cause or issue standing before it”.
• Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Cabinet Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Communications, and Railways, has inaugurated the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) Centre Leh, Extension Centre Kargil, and IT Enabled Incubation Centre for Handicraft and Handloom Sector.
• West Central Railway has created the Navdoot, a battery-powered dual-mode locomotive.
• The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has proposed that the government adopt a guaranteed employment programme for city residents as well as a universal basic income (UBI) scheme to eliminate income gaps.
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established the Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy and addressed it to the startup community via video conferencing at the Madhya Pradesh Startup Conclave in Indore.
• Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a new infection has been detected in parts of Kerala.

• The Government of Kerala will launch a first-of-its-kind initiative state-owned over-the-top (OTT) platform, named ‘CSpace’, on November 1 (coinciding with the Kerals’s formation day).
• Nexcharge, a joint venture between India’s Exide Industries Limited and Swiss-based Leclanché SA, has started the mass production of the nation’s largest lithium-ion battery packs at its factory in Prantij, Gujarat.
• The market regulator Securities and Exchange board of India (SEBI) has enhanced the net worth criteria and track record requirements to strengthen the regulatory framework for collective investment schemes.
• The Reserve Bank of India has stated public sector banks reported over 51% dip in the amount involved in frauds to Rs 40,295.25 crore during the financial year ended March 2022 & the 12 PSBs (Public Sector Banks) had reported frauds worth Rs 81,921.54 crore in preceding fiscal 2020-21.

• According to the World Bank, India will overtake Mexico as the top remittance-receiving country in 2021, relegating China to third place.

• The BSE Limited appointed Subash Sheoratan Mundra, Public Interest Director as the Chairman of the board of directors of the company & he will replace Justice Vikramajit Sen.
• The Center announced that the tenure of Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma is extended for another 6 months from May 21, 2022, to November 31, 2022.
• A full-stack agricultural value chain service provider Gram Unnati, has appointed Sunil Arora, former chief election commissioner (CEC) as its board’s new chairman (non-executive).
• Bharti Airtel has reappointed Gopal Vittal as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executing Officer (CEO) for a further period of 5 years i.e., from February 01, 2023 to January 31, 2028.
• The parent company of Royal Enfield, Eicher Motors B Govindarajan as the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Enfield.
• India has appointed Seasoned diplomat Naveen Srivastava as its new Ambassador to Nepal & he succeeded Vinay Kumar Kwatra
• India-born conservation biologist Dr Kamal Bawa, has been elected to the US National Academy of Sciences.
• Piramal Group chairman Ajay Gopi Kishan Piramal has received an honorary commander of the order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty the Queen.
• Cameroon activist and board member of the African Forest Forum, Cecil Ndjebet has won the 2022 Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award.
• Defence minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched two made-in-India warships ‘Surat’ and ‘Udaygiri’ at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully conducted maiden flight-test of indigenously-developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile launched from a Naval Helicopter from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.