Important Current Affairs of May 2023

Current Affairs of May 2023

National Current Affairs

• Kiren Rijiju has exited as Union Law Minister and will now take up the portfolio of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Arjun Ram Meghwal has been assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios.
• The Ghaziabad-Aligarh Expressway has witnessed a remarkable achievement with the construction of a 100-kilometer road in a record time of 100 hours.
• The Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V, an ambitious initiative by the Government of India, was recently launched by Union Minister Parshottam Rupala. At the core of the Sagar Parikrama journey is the resolve to address the challenges faced by the fishing community and other stakeholders along the coastal belt.
• The Union Health Ministry has unveiled the “75/25” initiative, aiming to revolutionize the management and prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India. This ambitious program sets a target of providing Standard Care to 75 million individuals with hypertension and diabetes by 2025.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently undertook a comprehensive study to assess the condition of the Tungnath temple. The findings revealed that the temple is experiencing a tilt of around five to six degrees. 
• The UTSAH portal, launched by UGC, is designed to effectively track and support the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and its strategic initiatives in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
• The Meri Life app, launched by Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, is set to revolutionize the way individuals and communities track their progress in the global mass movement called Mission LiFE.
• Doctors will now have to get a Unique Identification Number (UID) to be able to practice medicine in the country, as per the new regulations by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• The UNESCO World Heritage Centre has recommended Santiniketan, the cultural site in West Bengal, India, for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan recently launched SAKSHAM, a digital learning platform developed by the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW) in New Delhi. The aim of the platform is to promote medical education and training among healthcare professionals in India.
• India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries, according to the latest report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This ranking reflects a significant decline in press freedom in the country. The report shows that India’s ranking has fallen 11 places since last year when it was ranked 150th in the World Press Freedom Index. Norway, Ireland, and Denmark secured the top three positions in the index, while Vietnam, China, and North Korea ranked at the bottom.
• The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently released its 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the status of religious freedom across the globe during 2022. The report provides recommendations to improve the promotion of freedom of religion or belief abroad. India criticised this report after it recommended that the country be designated for the fourth year in a row that India be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern”.
• On May 28, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the new Parliament building. Modi placed a “Sengol” in a dedicated enclosure on the right side of the Speaker’s chair in the Lok Sabha chamber. Sengol was handed over by Lord Mountbatten to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, as a symbol of the transfer of power, according to the government.
• The Ministry of Finance has announced the launch of a special ₹75 coin to commemorate the inauguration of India’s new parliament building.
• The SAMARTH Campaign launched by Union Minister Giriraj Singh aims to promote digital transactions in rural areas, with a focus on empowering women.

International Current Affairs

• The 76th World Health Assembly, a significant global health event, is scheduled to be held from May 21 to May 30 in Geneva, Switzerland.
• This year’s venue for the G7 Summit is Hiroshima. The Group of Seven, composed of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, focuses on a wide range of topics, including economic policy, security, climate change, energy, and gender equality.
• In a forest in Southern Chile, a tree known as the “Great Grandfather,” is believed to be the oldest in the world, with a history that spans more than 5,000 years.
• India has launched Operation Karuna, a vital mission aimed at providing much-needed assistance to Myanmar following the devastation caused by Cyclone Mocha.
• In a significant development, Russia and Iran have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct a rail link that will bolster the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and facilitate the expansion of trade between India and Russia.
• Bhutan has launched Naykap Gokab, a new online platform aimed at promoting local innovative ideas and solutions.
• The Arab League has recently made a decision to readmit Syria after more than a decade. Syria was thrown out of the organization for its brutal repression of pro-democracy protests that led to the ongoing civil war.
• The upcoming 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held in Dubai this November and will dedicate a day to health, making it the first COP to focus on health issues in such depth.
• In the midst of an economic crisis, India has decided to extend a $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka for another year, providing the much-needed funds to pay for essential imports.
• Sberbank has developed a technology named GigaChat to compete with ChatGPT in the artificial intelligence chatbot race.
• The ‘Tiger Shark 40’ Joint Bangladesh-US Naval drill Exercise was held at BNS Nirvik in Chattogram.
• Indian Railways hands over 20 Broad Gauge Locomotives to Bangladesh.
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has entered into a partnership with Israel to establish the ‘India-Israel Center of Water Technology’ (CoWT).

Economy Current Affairs

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently taken a significant step by withdrawing the Rs 2000 banknotes from circulation.
• The RBI transferred a surplus of Rs 87,416 crore to the central government for the fiscal year 2022-23.
• The Union Cabinet recently approved the Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 (PLI Scheme) for IT Hardware. The scheme comes with a substantial budgetary outlay of Rs. 17,000 crores, demonstrating the government’s commitment to promoting domestic IT hardware manufacturing. 
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed financial institutions and banks to adopt an Alternative Reference Rate, primarily the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), and end their reliance on the scandal-shrouded London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and Mumbai Interbank Forward Outright Rate (MIFOR) by July 1.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its annual report for the fiscal year 2022-23, highlighting significant improvements in the general government deficit and debt. The report notes that the general government deficit moderated to 9.4% of GDP, while the government debt stood at 86.5% of GDP. These figures represent a decline from the peak levels of 13.1% and 89.4% recorded in 2020-21, respectively.
• SBI recorded a remarkable 83 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase in net profit, surpassing market estimates. The bank’s net profit rose from Rs 9,113 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year to Rs 16,694 crore. Additionally, for the entire financial year 2022-23, SBI achieved a profit of Rs 50,232 crore, a substantial rise from Rs 31,675 crore in 2021-22. This marks SBI’s highest-ever quarterly and yearly profit.
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) recently issued a notification clarifying that interest earned from Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) will not be subject to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS).

State Current Affairs

• President Droupadi Murmu, during her recent visit to Kerala, inaugurated the silver jubilee celebrations of Kudumbashree, the largest self-help group network in the country.
• The development of the ‘Riverine Based Tourism Circuit’ will provide a significant boost to the tourism sector in Assam. The MoU was signed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Sagarmala Development Corporation Limited (SDCL), Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), and the Department of Inland Waterways Transport (DIWT).
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has recently released ₹123.52 crores under the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa scheme. This initiative aims to provide crucial financial assistance to fishermen and their families during the annual ban period on marine fishing.
• Researchers from Mizoram University and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tubingen, Germany, have identified and named a new species of flying gecko found in Mizoram.
• Bihan Mela is a unique festival celebrated by the Kondh tribe in Odisha’s Nayagarh district since 2019. Literally meaning “seed festival,” it is a celebration of the indigenous crops and varieties grown by the farmers in the region.
• Bhopal recently became the first city in India to adopt the localization of the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative, known as Voluntary Local Review (VLR), aims to translate the global agenda into local actions and impacts that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
• The Handicrafts and Handlooms Department of Kashmir has acquired state-of-the-art equipment known as the OFDA 4000 for the testing and authentication process of Pashmina.
• Shimla will soon have a new traffic system called the One Minute Traffic Light Plan. The proposed traffic system is based on time, number, and space. Vehicles will be released every minute in the ratio of 40:20 and 30:30 seconds, meaning they will be stopped for 40 seconds and released for 20 seconds during peak hours, and halted and released for 30 seconds during normal times.
• The Madhya Pradesh state cabinet has given its approval to a new scheme called ‘Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana’ (Chief Minister Learn and Earn Scheme), aimed at providing opportunities for unemployed youth in the state.
• The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, recently inaugurated the innovative “Patch Reporting App” at the Secretariat.

Defence Current Affairs

• The Indian Navy’s Project-75, aimed at enhancing its submarine fleet, has reached a significant milestone with the commencement of sea trials for the sixth Scorpene Submarine. Named Vaghsheer, this submarine sets the stage for further strengthening the country’s naval capabilities.
• The bilateral exercise between India and Indonesia, known as Samudra Shakti-23, has commenced recently. 
• The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a private sector firm, are jointly developing the light tank Zorawar.
• The Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps, in collaboration with various disaster management groups, recently conducted a joint flood relief drill called ‘Exercise Jal Rahat.’
• The Indian Army recently conducted a divisional-level integrated training exercise, codenamed Exercise Buland Bharat, in the high-altitude ranges of the eastern theatre in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Indian Army aims to transform itself into a “future-ready, technology-driven, lethal and agile force.” To achieve this vision, it has initiated a project called Project Sanjay, which focuses on building the Army’s Battlefield Surveillance System.
• INS Magar, an amphibious assault ship of the Indian Navy, has served the nation for 36 years and is retired on May 6th, 2023.
• From May 3 to May 10, 2023, the Andaman Sea hosted the 35th iteration of the India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT), which involved the participation of the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy.

Sports Current Affairs

• The South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2023, a three-day international event, came to a close on May 17 in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. India bags 16 gold medals.
• The traditional game of Gatka has been officially included in the 37th National Games-2023, which are scheduled to take place in Goa in October of this year.
• FC Barcelona lifts 27th La Liga Title.
• Telangana’s Vuppala Prraneeth became India’s 82nd Grandmaster.
• Argentina’s Lionel Messi has won Laureus Sportsman of the Year 2023.
• The Odisha government has decided to further extend its sponsorship for both the Men and Women’s Indian Hockey Teams (senior and junior) for another ten years from 2023 to 2033.
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made history on April 30, becoming the first doubles pair to win a gold medal at the Badminton Asia Championships.
• India has won the title of NSC-CAVA Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup held in Kathmandu.
• Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched their fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) title, equaling a record with Mumbai Indians.
• Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has claimed number one ranking in men’s javelin for the first time.

Appointment Current Affairs

• Praveen Kumar Srivastava is the new CVC.
• Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and senior advocate KV Viswanathan will be sworn in as Supreme Court judges.
• Indian-origin Captain Pratima Bhullar Maldonado has become the highest-ranking South Asian woman in the New York Police Department.
• The government has appointed Ravneet Kaur as the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
• The US Senate has approved Geeta Rao Gupta, an Indian American, as the Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues in the State Department.
• Praveen Sood, the Director General of Police in Karnataka, has been appointed as the next director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
• Rajiv Dhar is the new MD & CEO of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL).
• Ajay Banga has been selected as the 14th President of the World Bank.
• Ajit Kumar Mohanty is the new Chairman of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
• Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected as President of Turkey.
• Bola Tinubu was sworn in as the President of Nigeria on May 29.

Awards Current Affairs

• Recently, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, was bestowed with Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur, which is France’s highest civilian honor.
• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways honoured the Cochin Port Authority (CPA) with the Sagar Shreshtha Sammaan for 2022-23.
• Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, presented the Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his efforts in creating a fear-free Uttar Pradesh.
• On May 3, UNESCO marked World Press Freedom Day by awarding its annual World Press Freedom Prize to three imprisoned Iranian female journalists. The winners, Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Narges Mohammadi, were recognized for their work in reporting on human rights abuses in Iran and their commitment to truth and accountability.
• Maria Stepanova, a renowned Russian writer currently residing in Berlin, has been awarded the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2023.
• Narendra Modi conferred with Papua New Guinea and Fiji’s highest honour.

Important Days of May

• May 25: World Thyroid Awareness Day.
• UN General Assembly Declares November 26 as World Sustainable Transport Day.
• May 21: National Anti-Terrorism Day.
• National Dengue Day is observed on May 16 every year to raise awareness about the mosquito-borne disease.
• May 20: World Bee Day, World Metrology Day.
• May 08: World Thalassemia Day, World Red Cross Day.
• May 1st: Labour Day.

Important Current Affairs of April 2023
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