National news
DRDO and IIT Bhubaneswar Forge Strategic Alliance for Defence Technology Advancement
- DRDO and IIT Bhubaneswar partner to boost research in electronics warfare, AI surveillance, power systems, and radar systems.
- Nine projects sanctioned by DRDO, with an additional seven awaiting approval, supported by ₹18 crore funding.
- Collaboration aimed at transitioning from knowledge generation to practical application and fostering skilled professionals in defence research and technology.
DRDO:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded in 1958
- Head: Samir V Kamat
Japan and Nagaland Unveil Kohima Peace Memorial and Eco Park:
- Kohima Peace Memorial and Eco Park inaugurated in Nagaland, symbolizing collaboration between Japan, Japanese International Cooperation Agency, and Nagaland Government.
- Projects hold historical significance, representing peace, reconciliation, and educational value.
- Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki acknowledges Battle of Kohima’s impact, expressing sympathy for Nagaland’s people’s suffering during World War II.
Japan:
- Capital: Tokyo
- Prime minister: Fumio Kishida
International News
Putin Reappoints Mikhail Mishustin as Russian Prime Minister:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin reappoints Mikhail Mishustin as Prime Minister, pending State Duma approval.
- Mishustin’s reappointment follows Putin’s fifth presidential term inauguration.
- State Duma session scheduled to consider Mishustin’s candidacy, with approval expected given the Kremlin’s control over the parliament.
Russia:
- Capital: Moscow
- Currency: Russian Ruble
Idriss Deby’s Son Wins Chad Presidential Election: Continuation of Dynastic Rule
- Mahamat Idris Deby Itno, son of late dictator Idriss Deby, secures victory in Chad’s presidential election held on May 6, 2024.
- Provisional results announced by the National Election Management Agency on May 10, 2024.
- Mahamat Idris Deby assumed interim presidency in 2021 after his father’s death and will now rule Chad for another six years, continuing the family’s dynastic rule.
Republic of Chad
- Capital: N’Djamena
- Currency: CFA franc
- President: Mahamat Idris Deby Itno
WHO Certifies Belize, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines for EMTCT of HIV and Syphilis:
- On May 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) granted certification to Belize, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Syphilis.
- The official ceremony took place in Kingston, Jamaica, organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- This certification underscores the countries’ successful efforts in implementing strategies to prevent transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child, ensuring healthier futures for newborns.
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO):
- Director: Jarbas Barbosa
- Headquarters: Washington D.C., United States of America (U.S.A.)
- Member States: Comprising 35 member states and 4 associate members in the Americas region.
- Formation: Established in 1902, PAHO is the world’s oldest international public health agency, serving as the regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Banking News
Thomas Cook India Launches TCPay: Revolutionizing International Money Transfers
- Thomas Cook India has revolutionized international money transfers with the launch of TCPay, a user-friendly digital service designed to simplify and enhance the remittance process.
- Traditionally, sending money abroad involved tedious paperwork and limited operating hours. With TCPay, customers can now enjoy 24×7 remittances with ease and efficiency.
Seamless Digital Interface: TCPay offers a simple and seamless digital interface across Thomas Cook’s digital platforms, including FXNOW (B2C app), Portal, and Call Centre for assistance. This ensures a hassle-free experience for customers.
Zeta Launches Digital Credit as a Service for Indian Banks:
- Zeta introduces Digital Credit as a Service leveraging NPCI’s Credit Line on UPI scheme.
- Aims to capture 50% of India’s projected $1 trillion credit market by 2030.
- Solution streamlines credit issuance processes for banks, facilitating rapid deployment of diverse credit products.
- Ramki Gaddipati, Zeta’s CEO APAC & Global CTO, sees Credit Line on UPI as transformative, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize credit inclusion in India with real-time solutions.
SEBI Approves CARE ESG Ratings Limited:
- CARE ESG Ratings Limited (CareEdge-ESG), a subsidiary of CARE Ratings Limited, receives approval from Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to function as a Category I Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Ratings Provider (ERP).
- CareEdge-ESG, formerly known as CARE Advisory Research & Training Limited, obtained registration under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 on May 2, 2024.
- The approval enables CareEdge-ESG to offer ESG ratings, aiding issuers in improving their sustainability performance by providing insights into environmental, social, and governance factors.
About SEBI: SEBI, or the Securities and Exchange Board of India, is the regulatory body governing the securities market in India.
- Chairperson: Madhabi Puri Buch was indeed the Chairperson of SEBI.
- Headquarters: SEBI is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Establishment: SEBI was established in 1992 under the SEBI Act, 1992. It was given statutory powers on April 12, 1992, through the SEBI Act, 1992
Appointment News
RBI Appoints R. Lakshmi Kanth Rao as Executive Director:
- R. Lakshmi Kanth Rao appointed as Executive Director at RBI, effective from May , 2024.
- Rao brings over 30 years of experience at RBI, previously serving as Chief General Manager in charge of the Department of Regulation.
- Responsibilities include overseeing operations of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) and handling matters related to the Right to Information Act (RTI) and Department of Communication within RBI.
RBI:
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumabi
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das, IA
Rizwan Koita Appointed Chairperson of NABH:
- Rizwan Koita, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Director of the Koita Foundation (KF), appointed as Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH).
- Koita replaces Padma Shri Dr. Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (IPU) in Delhi, who assumed the role of Chairperson NABH in 2022.
- Koita’s appointment reflects his expertise and commitment to improving healthcare standards in India.
- NABH plays a crucial role in accrediting hospitals and healthcare providers, ensuring quality and safety standards in healthcare delivery.
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH):
- CEO: Dr. Atul Mohan Kochhar
- Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
- Established in: 2005
- Accreditation: NABH is accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) and is its Institutional Member.
Science And Tech News
Introduction of India’s First Loitering Aerial Munitions (LAM) by Kadet Defence Systems (P) Limited (KDS):
- KDS introduces India’s first Loitering Aerial Munitions (LAM) for the Indian Armed Forces.
- Developed under a unique Development cum Production Partner (DCPP) model with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Indigenous LAMs designed and manufactured entirely in India, with over 90% of components domestically sourced.
- Reflects KDS’s commitment to fostering indigenous innovation and self-reliance in defence production.
- LAM system incorporates cutting-edge technologies including Canister Aerial Loitering Munition (CALM), Combat Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with stand-off capabilities, and Tactical Vertical Takeoff & Landing (VTOL) UAVs.
About Kadet Defence Systems (P) Limited:
- KDS is a private company that manufactures aerospace products focused primarily on Unmanned Systems.
- Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Avdesh Khaita
- Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Established in 2011
Important Days
World Migratory Bird Day 2024: Celebrating the Importance of Insects
- World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is an annual global campaign that aims to raise awareness about the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
- This year, WMBD will be celebrated on two dates: Saturday, 11 May 2024, and Saturday, 12 October 2024, to align with the cyclic patterns of bird migration in different hemispheres.
- The theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2024 is “Insects”. This year’s campaign will focus on highlighting the vital role that insects play in the lives of migratory birds
National Technological Day:
- India celebrates National Technological Day on May 11th annually to honor the country’s scientific and technological achievements.
- The day aims to inspire youth and raise awareness about India’s prowess in science and technology.
- It commemorates India’s success in utilizing science and technology to address national challenges.
- Winners of the Rashtriya Vigyan Purashkar (National Science Awards) are announced by the government on this day.
- The inaugural National Technological Day was observed on May 11, 1999, marking the anniversary of the Pokhran nuclear test conducted on May 11, 1998.
- The decision to designate May 11th as National Technological Day was made by the National Council for Technology Development during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s prime ministership.
International Nurses Day 2024: Date, Theme, And History
- Every year, 12 May is observed as International Nurses Day as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, who was born on this day.
- In certain countries of the world like Australia, Canada, and the United States, International Nurses Day is part of a weeklong celebration which ends on 12 May.
- This celebration is often known as National Nurses Week.
- The day is observed to highlight the importance of nurses and the vital role they play in the healthcare sector. Despite being the backbone of the healthcare sector, nurses’ importance is not valued and appreciated by the community. To change this perception, International Nurses Day is organised.
- Every year, the International Council of Nurses select a theme. The theme for the 2024 International Nurses Day is – ‘Our Nurses Our Future, The Economic Power of Care.’
History of the International Nurses Day
The International Council of Nurses celebrated the first International Nurses Day on 12 May 1974 to bring the attention of policymakers and the public to the important role nurses play in modern health care.
Obituary New
Passing of Padma Bhushan Awardee Moosa Raza:
- Moosa Raza, former Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) from 1988 to 1990, passed away at 87 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Born on February 27, 1937, in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu.
- Honored with the Padma Bhushan for Civil Service in 2010.
- Remembered for his significant contributions to the civil service sector in J&K and beyond.