National News
Buddha Purnima Celebrations Across India: Honouring the Birth Anniversary of Gautam Buddha
- Buddha’s Birthday or Buddha Day is a primarily Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama
- Celebrated worldwide, Buddha Purnima is a significant festival observed in numerous countries including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, and others.
- The exact date of Buddha’s Birthday is based on the Asian lunisolar calendars and is primarily celebrated in Vaisakha month of the Buddhist calendar and the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar.
- Message of Peace: President Droupadi Murmu highlights Lord Buddha’s teachings of truth, non-violence, harmony, and compassion towards all living beings.
- Inspiration for Humanity: The teachings of Lord Buddha, emphasizing tolerance, self-awareness, and ethical conduct, continue to inspire people to serve humanity and foster goodwill.
Saga Dawa Festival in Sikkim: Honouring the Triple Blessed Occasion of Buddha Shakyamuni
- Saga Dawa festival in Sikkim marks the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni, known as the ‘Triple Blessed Occasion’, celebrated on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Northern Buddhist Calendar.
- Governor’s Greetings: Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya extends warm wishes to the people, emphasizing the significance of the occasion and the enduring relevance of Buddha’s teachings.
- Guiding Principles: Governor Acharya highlights Buddha’s teachings of justice, compassion, and humanity, urging everyone to illuminate lives following the principle of “Appa Deepo Bhava” – become your lamp and illuminate the lives of others.
International news
Artara’24: Promoting Emerging Indian Artistic Talents in Dubai
- Artara’24 Fine Arts Exhibition and Competition establishes itself as a prestigious platform in Dubai for discovering and nurturing emerging artistic talents from India.
- Uncovering Hidden Gems: With a focus on Indian talent residing in Dubai, the event aims to uncover hidden artistic gems, providing a stage for lesser-known artists, students, and art enthusiasts.
- Impressive Showcase: Held at the Al Jalila Cultural Center, the exhibition features over 250 pieces of art, showcasing extraordinary abilities and connecting creative minds while reflecting diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Banking news
Record Rs 2.11 Lakh Crore RBI Dividend for 2023-24:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves the transfer of a record Rs 2.11 lakh crore as dividend to the Indian government for the financial year 2023-24.
- Central Board Decision: The decision was made during the meeting of RBI’s Central Board of Directors in Mumbai on May 22, 2024.
- Government Ownership: The government of India, as the sole owner of RBI, receives the entirety of the dividend.
- Despite Risk Buffer Increase: Notably, this dividend is the highest ever despite the Contingent Buffer Risk being increased to 6.5% for the fiscal year 2023-24.
RBI:
- RBI was set up under the RBI Act 1934, and it started functioning on 1 April 1935.
- Governor of RBI – Shaktikanta Das
- Deputy Governor of RBI – Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar, Swaminathan J.
- Headquarters of RBI: Mumbai
Appointment news
John Slaven Appointed Vice-Chairman of International Aluminium Institute: Driving Sustainable Transformation in the Aluminium Industry
- Vedanta Aluminium’s CEO, John Slaven, appointed as Vice-Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), tasked with spearheading global initiatives for sustainable transformation in the industry.
- In his role, Slaven will lead efforts to highlight aluminium’s crucial role in advancing the energy transition towards a Zero Carbon future, emphasizing sustainability and responsible production.
- IAI’s Mission: Established in 1972, the IAI represents the global primary aluminium industry, advocating for responsible production and increasing awareness of the industry’s operations and environmental benefits.
To Lam Elected as New President of Vietnam: Leadership Change in Vietnamese Parliament
- General To Lam elected as the new president of Vietnam by the Vietnamese parliament on May 22, 2024.
- Former Position: Lam, previously serving as the public security minister, was removed from his ministerial post by the Vietnamese parliament before his election as president.
- Resignation of Former President: Lam’s appointment follows the resignation of former President Vo Van Thuong two months prior, amidst a corruption crackdown in Vietnam.
Vietnam:
- Capital of Vietnam: Hanoi
- Currency of Vietnam: Dong
- Prime Minister: Pham Minh Chinh
Dominican Republic President Abinader re-elected to 2nd term
- Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader was re-elected for another four-year term.
Dominican Republic
- Capital: Santo Domingo
- Currency: Dominican peso
- President: Luis Abinader
BARC appoints Dr Bikramjit Chaudhuri as its new chief of measurement science and analytics
- Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has announced the appointment of Dr Bikramjit Chaudhuri as its new Chief of Measurement Science and Analytics.
- He will succeed Dr Derrick Gray, a veteran audience measurement and advanced analytics executive, who has been a member of BARC India for six years.
Award news
Jenny Erpenbeck’s ‘Kairos’ wins the International Booker Prize 2024
- German writer Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann have won the International Booker Prize for their novel “Kairos”.
- The novel follows the destructive love affair between a 19-year-old student and a married man in his 50s who meet on a bus in East Berlin around 1986.
- The prize money is £50,000.
- Last year’s winner was Time Shelter by Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov and translated by Angela Rodel.
- The Booker Prizes celebrate the world’s best fiction originally written in English (the Booker Prize) or translated into English (the International Booker Prize).
- Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare was named the inaugural International Prize winner in 2005.
Ranks and report news
NTPC Secures 3rd Rank at ATD BEST Awards 2024: Recognized for Talent Development
- NTPC awarded third place in the Talent Development category at the ATD BEST Awards 2024, held in New Orleans, USA, showcasing its excellence in human resource management.
- Ms. Rachana Singh Bhal, NTPC’s Chief General Manager of Strategic HR & Talent Management, accepted the prestigious award on behalf of the company.
- NTPC becomes the only public sector company to win seven awards in the last eight years at the ATD BEST Awards, highlighting its exceptional Learning and Development practices and commitment to excellence.
- Embracing Technology and Innovation: NTPC’s success attributed to its adoption of technology, innovation, focused learning and development approach, setting industry benchmarks, facilitating learning opportunities, and nurturing a culture of continuous learning.
About NTPC
- The government of India established NTPC in 1975 as the National Thermal Power Corporation Private Limited. In 2005, the company was renamed NTPC Limited.
- NTPC was conferred with the Mahartna status in May 2010.
- Chairman cum Managing Director(CMD): Gurdeep Singh
- Headquarters: New Delhi
Important days
International Day for Biological Diversity 2024: Promoting Conservation and Action
- Observed annually on May 22nd, the International Day for Biological Diversity highlights the crucial role of the natural world in providing essential resources and services for human well-being.
- Aims to raise awareness among individuals and policymakers about the importance of protecting, respecting, and restoring biodiversity.
- Established by a United Nations General Assembly resolution in December 2000, designating May 22nd as the International Day for Biological Diversity.
- Theme for 2024: The theme for the 2024 International Day for Biodiversity is ‘Be part of the Plan’, emphasizing the need for collective action and participation in biodiversity conservation efforts.
Sports news
Satwik-Chirag Reclaim World No. 1 Spot in BWF Rankings
- Indian badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reclaim the top spot in the latest BWF Rankings after an impressive win at the Thailand Open Super 500 in Bangkok.
- Previous Rank: Ranked third before the tournament, Satwik and Chirag surpassed China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang to secure the top position.
- Dominant Performance: The duo showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament, winning all their matches in straight games and securing their second Thailand Open men’s doubles title by defeating China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi 21-15, 21-15 in the final match.
