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Current Affairs of May 2020 Quick Points

Contents

SI No. Topic Page Number

1 Important Day & Date with Theme 2-5

2 Important Appointments 5-8

3 Awards and Honours 8-10

4 Summit & Conference 10-11

5 Agreement & MoU 11-13

6 BOOKS & Authors 13

7 Ranking and Index 13

8 Apps And Portals 14-15

9 Scheme, Programme & Campaign 15-20

10 Sports 20-22

11 Science and Technology 22-23

12 Banking & Finance News 23-25

13 OBITUARIES 25-26

14 Miscellaneous 26-29

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Important Day & Date with Theme

Date Day with Theme

1st May International Labour Day

2nd May World Tuna Day

1st Sunday International Dawn Chorus Day

3rd May World Press Freedom Day.

Theme: “Journalism without Fear or Favour”.

4th May Coal Miners Day

4th May International Firefighters Day

5th May International Day of the Midwife.

Theme: “Midwives with women: celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite-our time is NOW!”.

5th May World Hand Hygiene Day .

Theme:-”Save Lives: Clean Your Hands”.

First Tuesday World Asthma Day.

Theme:-”Enough Asthma Death”

6th May International No Diet Day

7th May World Athletics Day.

Theme:- “Athletics for a Better World”.

8th May World Red Cross Day.

8th May (2nd Saturday)

World Migratory Bird Day.

Theme:- “Birds Connect Our World”.

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Celebrated on twice a year, on the 2nd Saturday in May and in October.

8thMay World Thalassaemia Day.

Theme: “The dawning of a new era for thalassaemia: Time for a global effort to make novel therapies accessible and affordable to patients”.

9th May World Migratory Bird Day.

Theme: “Birds Connect Our World”.

9th May(2nd Sunday)

Mothers Day

11 May National Technology Day

12 May International Nurses Day.

Theme:- “Nurses: A voice to lead Nursing the World to Health”.

15 May International Family Day .

Theme:- “Families in Development: Copenhagen & Beijing + 25”

3rd Friday National Endangered Species Day

16 May International Day of Light

16 May National Dengue Day

16 May International Day of Living Together in Peace

17 May World Hypertension Day.

Theme:- “Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer.”

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17 May World Telecommunication Day.

Theme:- “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

18 May World AIDS Vaccine Day

18th May International Museum Day.

Theme:- ”Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion”.

20th May World Meteorology Day.

Theme:- ”Measurements for Global Trade”.

20th May World Bee Day .

Theme:- “Bee Engaged” “Save the Bees”

21st May National Anti terrorism Day

21st May International Tea Day (1st )

22nd May World Biodiversity Day.

Theme:- "Our solutions are in nature."

23th May World Turtle Day

23th May International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.

Theme : “End gender inequality! End health inequities! End Fistula now!”

24th May International Commonwealth Day

25th May World Thyroid day

25th May International Missing Children’s Day

28th May World Hunger Day

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28th May International Day of Action for Women’s Health

29th May International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Theme :-“Women in Peacekeeping- A Key to Peace”

29th May World Digestive Health Day.

Theme:- “Gut Microbiome- A Global Perspective.”

29th May International Everest Day

30th May Hindi Journalism Day

31st May World No Tobacco Day

Important Appointments

Name of the Person Designation

Abhas Jha Practice Manager of World Bank for Climate Change

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Chairperson Parliament’s public accounts committee (PAC), reappointed

Aiman Ezzat CEO of Capgemini Group. He will Replace Paul Hermelin

Ajay Tirkey Secretary of Ministry of Women and Child Development WCD Ministry

Ajinkya Rahane Brand Ambassador for edtech company ELSA Corp(English Language Speech Assistant Corporation)

Akhil Kumar(Indian boxer) Re-inducted Disciplinary Panel of National Anti Doping Agency’s (NADA).

Anil Bhansali VP Engineering in India of Google Cloud

Anita Kotwani CEO of Carat India, a media agency

Arvind Kumar Sharma Secretary to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSME Ministry

Arun Singhal CEO of India’s apex food regulator Food Safety and

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Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Ashok Michael Pinto (Indian American lawyer)

US representative to International Bank for Reconstruction and Development IBRD

Atsushi Ogata President, MD and CEO of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI)

Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel (5th time)

Carmen Reinhart Vice President and Chief Economist of World Bank Group

DPS Negi Director General of Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Replaces BN Nandha.

Dilip Oommen President of Indian Steel Association(ISA). He will replace TV Narendran.

Dr Harsh Vardhan Chairma of World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board . He will replace Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan

Giridhar Aramane Secretary to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Govinda Rajulu Chintala Chairman of NABARD . Replace Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala

Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi Secretary of MNRE(Ministry of New and Renewable Energy). He succeeds Anand Kumar, who earlier took charge as Secretary in Ministry of Culture

Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes Director General of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

Jahnabi Phookan National President of FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO)

Keva Bain of Bahamas President of World Health Assembly

Krishnan Ramachandran MD & CEO of Max Bupa Health Insurance. He succeeds Ashish Mehrotra

Kumar Sangakkara(first non British President)

President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)

Leo Puri Chairman of JP Morgan South Asia and South East Asia

Lieutenant General Raj Shukla

Command of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC).

Manoj Ahuja Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

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Replace Anita Karwal

Manoj Jain chairman of the city gas distributor Mahanagar Gas Ltd

Marcos Troyjo President of New Development Bank (NDB) ( from July 7, 2020). Replace K. V Kamath

Moeketsi Majoro Prime Minister of Lesotho

Mustafa Al Kadhimi Prime Minister of Iraq.

Narinder Batra A member of the Olympic Channel Commission.

Narinder Batra President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

Neeraj Dhawan Chief Risk Officer of Yes Bank

PK Nair Indian Ambassador to Niger . He will replace Rajesh Agarwal

PR Jaishankar MD of the India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL)

R Sreelekha Kerala’s First Woman DGP

Rahul Chhabra Economic Relations Secretary

Rajesh Goel Director General (DG) of the Realtors body National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO)

Ramesh Babu V Director (Operations) of NTPC.

Saritha Komatireddy Nominated by Trump as US federal court judge.

Sandip Pradhan Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Shikha Sharma Advisor of Google Pay India

Shri Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi

Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.

SN Rajeswari Chairman and MD of the Oriental Insurance Company (OIC). Replace AV Girija Kumar

Sriram Venkataraman Chief financial officer (CFO) for the commerce division of Flipkart

Suresh K Reddy India's new ambassador to Brazil

Tarun Bajaj Director on RBI Central Board .

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He will replace Atanu Chakraborty

Thierry Delaporte CEO & MD of Wipro. He will replace Abidali Neemuchwala

TS Tirumurti India’s New Permanent Representative to UN

V Vidyavathi Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Zubair Iqbal MD of Jammu & Kashmir Bank

Resigned

Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma will be resigning from Soft Bank board of

directors on June 25.

Thomas Thabane Prime Minister of Lesotho has formally resigned

WTO chief Roberto Azevedo resigns from post. The head of the World

Trade Organization, Roberto Azevedo will step down from his post on

August 31.

Awards and Honours

Award Name Name of Person

2020 Pulitzer Prize Indian journalists Dar Yasin, Mukhtar Khan and Channi Anand

Alexander Dalrymple Award 2019,UK Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar

Christophe Merieux Prize(France’s top science prizes)

Quarraisha Abdool Karim (South African HIV researcher)

‘coronavirus heroes’ in the US Sravya Annappareddy (Indian-American girl)

Laila Khan (Pakisthani-American girl)

for donating cookies to doctors, nurses

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and firefighters

Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award 2020

Journalist Siddharth Varadarajan

Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award 2020

17 journalists from 14 countries. Indian journalist Siddharth Varadarajan is among the 17 recipients.

International Honorary Member to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Professor Shobhana Narasimhan

Nikkei Asia Prize 2020 IIT Madras Professor Thalappil Pradeep (for his pioneering work in nanotechnology)

Nikkei Asia Prizes 2020 in ‘Science and Technology’ category

IT Madras professor T Pradeep

NYIPLA Inventor of the year Award 2020 New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA)

Rajiv Joshi

Order of Rising Sun by Japan Thangjam Dhabali Singh (Manipuri Doctor)

Fed Cup Heart Award 2020 for Asia/Oceania zone

Sania Mirza

A Prominent Asian Award with the "40 Most Influential Asian Under 40"

Shrenik Ghodawat

SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020 for Best Regional Airport in India and Central Asia

The Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru

The Marcus Wallenberg Prize 2020 Joseph J Landsberg, Richard H Waring and Nicholas C Coops

UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award (2019)

Suman Gawani (Indian peacekeeper)

V. Admiral G.M. Hiranandani Memorial Rolling Trophy 2020

Lieutenant Commander Akshay Kumar.

Young Career Award 2020 (in Nano Science And Technology)

Saurabh Lodha

The Annual New Zealand Cricket Awards:

International Women’s ODI Player of Suzie Bates

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the Year award

International Men’s ODI Player of the Year award

Kane Williamson

International Women’s T20 Player of the Year award

Sophie Devine

International men’s T20 Player of the Year award

Ross Taylor

Startup India Animal Husbandry Grand Challenge Awards

Category Winner Value Added Products Krushak Mitra Agro Services Pvt. Ltd.,

Mumbai

Eliminating Milk Adulteration White Gold Technologies LLP, Mumbai

Product Traceability Emer Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai

E commerce Solutions MoooFarm, Gurugram, Haryana

Breed Improvement & Animal Nutrition Adis Technologies, Belagavi, Karnataka

Summit & Conference

Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan participated in the Non-Aligned

Movement (NAM) Health Ministers’ meeting through video conferencing.

The meeting was chaired by Health Minister of Republic of Azerbaijan

OgtayShiraliyev.

2nd Extraordinary G20 Virtual Trade and Investment Ministerial Meet was

held under the presidency of Saudi Arabia. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad

represented from India in virtual summit.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) E-conclave was chaired by

the Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.

Bamboo Conclave held via Video Conferencing to promote bamboo

manufacturing and trade.

The Army Commanders Conference of India has commenced in New Delhi.

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A seven-member committee has constituted by the Ministry of Corporate

Affairs (MCA) to examine the comments received on the consultation paper

floated by it for enhancing audit independence and accountability in the

country.

Jitendra Singh ,Union Minister for the Development of the North Eastern

Region (DoNER), organised a Bamboo Conclave through video conference

to discuss how country’s bamboo reserve can help strengthen its economy.

Tribal livelihoods and safety conference held with States/UTs in New Delhi

through video conference which was held by the Shri Arjun Munda,

Minister of Tribal Affairs.

Technology Development Board (TDB) and Confederation of Indian Industry

(CII) have jointly organised a Digital Conference “RE-START” (Reboot the

Economy through Science, Technology and Research Translations)”.

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)

organises Indo-Bangladesh “Virtual Conference”

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers meet video

conference to deliberate on cooperation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

32nd Commonwealth Health Ministers Meet held via Video Conference

with a theme: Delivering a co-ordinated Commonwealth COVID-19

response. Dr Harsh Vardhan participates from India .

73rd session of World Health Assembly held via video conferencing focused

on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.

The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) Meeting (22nd) was

chaired by the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala

Sitharaman in New Delhi.

Agreement & MoU

Organization or Countries Purpose

NTPC & ONGC To set up JVC for Renewable Energy Business

India Post with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

For delivery of COVID19 testing kits to 200 labs in country.

Flipkart with Karnataka Mango Board To support mango farmers.

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India & ADB To improve road in Maharashtra

Airtel Africa & UNICEF To support children & families affected by COVID19

Government of India & the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

To improve irrigation services in West Bengal

WHO & the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

To promote health through sport and physical activity.

The Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE), Ministry of Defence and eGov Foundation

For Online Management of Cantonment Boards

Flipkart partners with Bajaj Allianz To offer a digital motor insurance policy to Flipkart’s customers .

“Zaggle” with “Visa” For innovative payment solutions for SMEs

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) with Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL)

To develop a COVID19 vaccine

National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI with fintech start up DotPe

To build its own tech platform

CSIR IGIB signs MoU with TATA Sons For licensing KNOWHOW for FELUDA in order to execute rapid diagnosis of COVID19.

India with Russia For coking coal.

PNB Housing Finance with IIT Delhi For reusable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be supplied to government hospitals.

Defence Ministry with Tata Power To modernise 37 Airfields of Indian Air Force

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) with Art Of Living(AOL)

To promote tribal enterprises

IIT Kanpur & Bharat Dynamics Limited ink pact

To make affordable ventilators developed by NOCCA Robotics

The TVS group, Sundaram Medical Foundation and IIT Madras

Jointly developed a low cost, automated respiratory assist device

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called the Sundaram Ventago

IIT Hyderabad Partners With Hong Kong Financial Capital Firm

To establish a global network for & To Create Venture Ecosystem.

Facebook and Bollywood a home to home fundraiser concert, ‘I For India’.

Federal Bank with MoneyGram Payment

For direct to bank deposits service in India.

BOOKS & Authors

Books Author Name

“The Ickabog” JK Rowling

“Prof. B.B. Lal: India Rediscovered” e book

Released by Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel.

‘COVID Katha’ multimedia guide Launched by Dr Harsh Vardhan

‘Vijyant at Kargil: The Life of a Kargil Hero’. Biography of Captain Vijyant Thapar

Vijyant’s father Colonel VN Thapar and writer Neha Dwivedi

The Room Where It Happened: A White HouseMemoir

John Bolton. It is Published by Simon & Schuster

Shivaji in South Block: The Unwritten History of a Proud People

Girish Kuber

“Fear of God” Vadhan His real name is Bommadevara Sai Chandravadhan

“Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City”

Fang Fang

“Hop On: My Adventures on Boats, Trains and Planes” ebook format

Ruskin Bond

Ranking and Index

Index India’s Rank

Top Rank Index released by

Global Energy Transition Index

74th Sweden World Economic Forum (WEF)

ICC Test rankings 3rd Australia International cricket council

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Apps and Portals

Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Law and Justice and Communications,

Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched the National “Artificial Intelligence

Portal” of India called “ai.gov.in” or sharing of resources

Facebook launches calling application “CatchUp”.

Union Ministry of MSME launched portal “CHAMPIONS”(Creation and

Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and

National Strength).

JJ Tax App a chat-based tax app launched by Aspiring chartered

accountants Mehak Malik and Leesha Arya teamed to offering real-time

solutions by tax experts.

“Swagatam- Gateway to visit Government”, an application software was

launched in Dibrugarh by Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha, to

facilitate the process of taking an appointment to meet the Deputy

Commissioner for the common man of the district.

A web portal http://jkmonitoring.nic.in launched by Jammu & Kashmir

Government to facilitate its residents stranded in other parts of the

country.

Uttarakhand CM launches portal ‘HOPE’ - Helping Out People Everywhere

to help unemployed youth get jobs as well as offering them skill

development opportunities to increase their employability.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari

launched bank of schemes, ideas, innovation and Research portal

http://ideas.msme.gov.in on MSMEs. The portal gives access to all schemes

of Union, States and Union Territory Governments and has the provision for

uploading ideas, innovations and researches in the sector.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched Kisan

Sabha App to connect farmers to supply chain and freight transportation

Management System.

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Two voice-based applications launched by BharatPe that will help

accountholders access transactions and balance without having to touch

their phones amid COVID-19 outbreak.

Mobile App “National Test Abhyas” launched by Union HRD Ministry to

help the candidates to take mock tests for exams such as JEE Mains, NEET,

etc

Aarogya Setu Launches Mitr Telemedicine Portal For Consultations.

Yogi Adityanath launches 'Pravasi Raahat Mitra' App for migrant workers.

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launches Central University

of Odisha helpline 'Bharosa' to help students in distress .its helpline number

08046801010.

Swachhata MOHUA app is a highly popular grievance redressal tool for

citizens to better city management.

Yogi Adityanath launched ‘AyushKavach-Covid’ app to help people get

health remedies which can be useful in fight against COVID-19.

Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA have launched the GARUD (Government

Authorisation for Relief Using Drones) portal for providing fast track

approval to COVID-19 related drone operations

Union HRD Minister launches AI-powered mobile app ‘National Test

Abhyas' for mock tests for JEE Main, NEET 2020.

E-Commerce Platform ‘OrderMe’ launched to Supply Swadeshi Goods by

Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved.

Scheme, Programme & Campaign

J&K launches an initiative “SUKOON – COVID-19 Beat the Stress”

programme to spread awareness about the psychological impact of

lockdown

West Bengal government launches ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme helps to

generate income activities in horticulture and pisciculture involving the

locals to utilise 50,000 acres of barren land in 6 districts.

“Rajiv Gandhi Kisaan Nyay Yojana” launched by Chhattisgarh government

to stimulate the rural economy in the state.

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LIC launches “PM Vaya Vandana Yojana” for senior citizens.

‘FIR Aapke Dwar’ Yojana launched by Madhya Pradesh government in

Bhopal in 23 Police Stations including one urban and one rural Police

Station at 11 Divisional Headquarters.

Ravi Shankar Prasad launches program “Responsible AI for Youth” to

empower the youth of India with appropriate new age tech mind-set hence

making them digitally ready for the future

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Karnataka launched a programme

“Pranavayu” to create awareness on the need to self examine the

respiratory health.

In Maharashtra “Mee Annapurna” initiative launched by an IRDA.

In the tribal-dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh “Didi Vehicle

Service” launched by the women of Rural Livelihood Mission for the safe

delivery.

A programme “GOAL (Going Online As Leaders)” launched by the Union

Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda for Digital Skilling of Tribal

Youth.

“Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojana” launched by the Gujarat Government

to provide an interest subsidy, a moratorium as well as a collateral free loan

of up to Rs 1 lakh.

For migrant labourers Charan Paduka campaign launched in Madhya

Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh launches ‘Rozgar Setu’ scheme for skilled workers who

have returned.

Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will inaugurate the

'Everybody will get employment' scheme through video conferencing.

MNREGA job cards will be distributed to the labourers Under this scheme.

Uttarakhand launches Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana for returnee

migrants.

Union HRD Minister launched Helpline “Bharosa”. All University Students of

Odisha will be offered Cognitive Emotional Rehabilitation Services via this

helpline.

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Bengaluru launches Pranavayuprogramme to create awareness on need to

self examine respiratory health.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra launched country's

first ever 'FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana' in Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh is the first

state in the country to implement such an innovative scheme.

Madhya Pradesh government will bear the education expenses of children

from poor families under the Sambal scheme. The state will pay for the

children’s education from Class 1 to PhD

Maharashtra government launches online OPD services called e-Sanjivani

OPD (Out Patient Department) to resolve difficulties faced by citizens in

getting health check-ups and counseling as many private clinics during

lockdown.

The West Bengal government launched a scheme 'Matir Smristi' to

utilise50,000 acres of barren land in six districts for income-generating

activities like horticulture and pisciculture.

Gujarat CM announces Aatmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojana for small shop

keepers and self-employed hit by the lockdown. Under the scheme, one

lakh rupees collateral free loan will be given at two per cent for the

beneficiaries for three years.

Delhi police Commissioner launches initiative Ayuraksha- ‘Corona se jung -

Delhi Police ke sang’ joint initiative by Delhi Police and All India Institute of

Ayurveda, Ministry of AYUSH. The Ayurveda institute will maintain the

health of front line COVID warriors like Delhi Police personnel through

Ayurveda Immunity boosting measures. It will be implemented in a phase

wise manner.

Sikkim CM launches the www.sikkimgovtfeedback.org portal to gather

public feedback and suggestions on government schemes

IDEAthon launched by Jal Shakti ministry & National Institute of Urban

Affairs (NIUA) organized an IDEAthon on “The future of River Management’

to explore how the COVID-19 crisis can shape River Management strategies

for the future

Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches multimedia guide 'COVID Katha'

on the Covid-19 disease

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NITI Aayog starts campaign 'Surakshit Dada-Dadi& Nana-NaniAbhiyan' to

protect senior citizens during COVID-19.

A programme “Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna” launched

by Himachal Pradesh government guaranteeing at least 120 days'

employment to the those living in urban areas.

Under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ,Jharkhand

government launched three schemes to “revive the rural economy”,

affected by the lockdown in view of COVID-19 pandemic. The three scheme

are Birsa Harit Gram Yojana for rural plantations, Neelambar Pitambar

JAL Sammridhi Yojana for water conservation and the Poto Ho Khel Vikas

Scheme for making playgrounds.

Government of Himachal Pradesh launch “Nigah” app to aware family

members of migrant returnees.

National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC)

and Department of Science & Technology (DST) launches “YASH”( ‘Year of

Awareness on Science & Health) to fight against COVID-19.

A loan scheme “Vikas Abhaya” launched by Karnataka Vikas Grameena

Bank(KVGB) to provide some relief to Micro, Small and Medium

Enterprise(MSME) borrowers.

A joint programme was organised by All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA),

under Ministry of AYUSH, and Delhi Police, with a title AYURAKSHA

“Corona Se Jung: Delhi Police Ke Sang”.

“Kisan Sabha App” launched by CSIR (Central Road Research Institute) to

connect farmers to supply chain and freight transportation on management

system.

An e-Marketplace portal “The Saras Collection” has been launched by

Narendra Singh Tomar ,the Union Minister for Rural Development and

Panchayati Raj and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Himachal Pradesh govt to starts “Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna”

Operation “Samudra Setu” launched by Indian Navy.

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The West Bengal government launched an “Exit App” for people from other

states who are stucked in West Bengal during lockdown and desires to

return to their native place.

Chandigarh launched “CHDCOVID” app to provide COVID-19 information. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi has presented a virtual program

“NGMA KE SANGRAH SE”.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Alumni Council has launched a

“COVID-19 test bus” in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

NITI Aayog launches ‘Surakshit Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Abhiyan’

campaign to protect senior citizens during COVID-19

Ministry of Coal (MoC) launched a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) for timely operationalisation of coal mines.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) is going to launch a National e-

commerce marketplace ‘bharatmarket’. to integrate 95% of retail traders

onboard the national platform.

“#HumHaarNahiMaanenge” song released by HDFC Bank HDFC Bank has released a song titled #HumHaarNahiMaanenge to keep hopes up amidst the ongoing national lockdown and Covid-19 pandemic

Uttar Pradesh government has launched ‘Ayush Kavach-COVID’ app to help

people get health remedies

Himachal Pradesh state government plans to launch a new programme

‘Nigah’. educate the family members of the people coming to the state

from other parts of the country.

The Government of India has launched “Vande Bharat Mission” exercise to bring Indians from abroad

Uttar Pradesh goverment has launched a “Pravasi Raahat Mitra” App to

connect migrants with schemes and jobs

Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has

launched CHAMPIONS portal, a technology-driven Control Room-Cum-

Management Information System, for addressing the grievances of smaller

units in the country.

Government of India sets up “Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF)” to

provide stimulus to the rice exports.

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“Mission Sagar” started by India to assist island nations in Eastern Indian

Ocean Region .Under this mission, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari has been

deployed, carrying on board two medical assistance teams, essential Food

Items and COVID related Medicines and Special Ayurvedic Medicines to five

Island countries in the Indian Ocean namely Maldives, Mauritius,

Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros.

Sports

Aritz Aduriz football player of Spanish announces retirement.

American tennis player Jamie Hampton announces retirement.

Naomi Osaka Japanese tennis player becomes world’s highest-paid female

athlete.

US tennis star Jamie Hampton announces retirement.

Shehan Madushanka ,Sri Lankan bowler suspended from all forms of cricket

with immediate effect for alleged possession of heroin.

Two Indian Power lifters Savita Kumari & Ankit Shishodia provisionally

suspended by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) for violating anti-

doping rules.

The Bundesliga primary football league of Germany becomes the world’s

first major sports event to resume after COVID-19 lockdown. The European

Football League’s remaining matches from the 2019-20 season kick started

from May 16, 2020

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Committee set to ban the

use of saliva to shine ball due to the threats of COVID-19.

Narinder Batra to serve as the President of International Hockey Federation

has been extended until May 2021.

Deepa Malik ,Para-athlete announces retirement from Paralympics games.

Federation Internationale de Football Association(FIFA) launches #WeWillWin campaign to pay tribute to health workers.

Peter Ebdon announces his retirement from professional snooker due to various neck and back injuries.

Australia abolishes the use of saliva & sweat to shine the ball under COVID-19 guidelines.

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Egypt’s tennis player Youssef Hossam gets life time ban from TIU The Tennis Integrity Unit has banned the Egypt’s tennis player Youssef Hossam from professional tennis for life.

Swimming world governing body, Federation Internationale de Natation(FINA) postpones 2021 world championships to 13-29 May 2022.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has banned Indian discus thrower Sandeep Kumari for 4 years after failing a drug test.

Badminton World Championships 2020 postponed to November 2021. The tournament will be held at the Carolina Marin Stadium in Huelva, Spain.

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza became the first Indian to be nominated for the Fed Cup Heart Award from the Asia/Oceania zone along with Indonesia’s Priska Medelyn Nugrorho.

FC Goa appointed Spaniard Juan Ferrando as the club’s new head coach for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season and AFC Champions League campaign

World Snooker champion Peter Ebdon has retired from the sport to avoid having to endure daunting spinal surgery.

Commonwealth Youth Games 2021 rescheduled to 2023 World Championships 2021 postponed to November-December, to be held

in Carolina Marin Stadium Stadium in Huelva, Spain. FINA postpones 2021 Fukuoka world championships to May 2022. The 2021

World Aquatics Championships in Japan will now be held in 2022 Egyptian tennis player Youssef Hossam follows brother in receiving life ban

for match-fixing The World Rugby launched an online Women Coaching Rugby Toolkit aimed

at assisting unions in increasing the number of female rugby coaches at every level of the game.

Para-athlete Deepa Malik retires, to head India's Paralympic Committee Remy Di Gregorio French cyclist banned for 4 years by International Cycling

Union (UCI) until March 7, 2022 taking for blood-boosting hormone EPO (Erythropoietin)

China won the inaugural FIDE Chess.com Online Nations Cup against the USA

FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, which India will be hosting, has been rescheduled to February 17 till March 7, 2021,

World Snooker champion Peter Ebdon has retired from the sport to avoid having to endure daunting spinal surgery.

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The World Rugby launched an online Women Coaching Rugby Toolkit Sports Authority of India (SAI) has formed a six-member committee to

prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for a phased resumption of training across sporting disciplines at all the centres once the coronavirus-forced national lockdown is lifted. The six-member panel will be headed by SAI secretary Rohit Bharadwaj

China won the inaugural FIDE Chess.com Online Nations Cup.

Science and Technology

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has renamed its

next-generation space telescope “Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope

(WFIRST)” in honour of Nancy Grace Roman.

India’s first indigenous antibody testing kit “ELISA” has been successfully

developed by the National Institute of Virology, Pune.

An automated contactless UVC sanitisation cabinet named defence

Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS) developed by DRDO’s Research

Centre Imarat (RCI) lab, Hyderabad to sanitise electronic gadgets.

An Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection Tower has been developed by the Laser

Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) to achieve rapid and chemical free

disinfection of high infection prone areas.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR’s Scientific

Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh(CSIR-CSIO) has developed an

Electrostatic Disinfection Machine for disinfection.

A microwave steriliser has been developed by the Defence Institute of

Advanced Technology, Pune named as “ATULYA” to disintegrate COVID-19.

Indian-origin girl, Vaneeza Rupani has been honoured by NASA for naming

its 1st Mars helicopter ‘Ingenuity’.

IIT Delhi startup launches ‘Reusable Antimicrobial Mask’.

Russia plan to launch its first satellite to monitor Arctic climate in 2020.

A new rocket named “Long March 5B” successfully launched China into

space as it steps up Moon landing plans.

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A programme on health and risk communication ‘Year of Awareness on

Science & Health (YASH)’ launched by National Council for Science &

Technology Communication (NCSTC)with focus on COVID-19.

A brown dwarf Luhman 16A, discovered by a team of astronomers shows

signs of cloud bands similar to those seen on Jupiter and Saturn.

First indigenous antibody-based ELISA test kit - COaVID KAVACH developed

by National Institute of Virology, Pune for diagnosis of Corona Virus.

Two satellites successfully launched by China to test the space-based

Internet of Things (IoT)communications technology.The satellites Xingyun-2

01 and 02, were launched by a Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket from the

Jiuquan Satellite LaunchCentre in northwest China.

Italy develops ‘iFeel-You’ bracelet for social distancing.

TVS Group, Sundaram Med & IIT-M develops automated respiratory assist

device “Sundaram Ventago”.

Banking & Finance News

o Canara Bank has announced 'CANARA CREDIT SUPPORT' for all of their borrowers who have been affected by COVID-19.

o The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate by 40 basis points from 4.4 per cent to 4 per cent, reducing the reverse repo rate at 3.35 per cent to maintain accommodative stance.

o ICICI Bank launches special FD scheme ‘ICICI Bank Golden Years FD’, for senior citizens an interest rate of 6.55 per annum for deposits up to Rs.2 crore with tenure of more than five years to 10 years.

o Fino Payments Bank (FPB) is planning to partner with two-three non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) to source loans for them in rural areas.

o India's first zero-contact video KYC savings account launched by Kotak Mahindra Bank.

o A Digital Health EMI Network Card launched by Bajaj Finance Limited to make medical expenses affordable.

o Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs 1.63 lakh crorepackage for agriculture, fisheries and allied activities, and paved the way for amendment of Essential Commodity Act and interstate trade for farmers.

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o The licence of The CKP Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai to carry on banking business has been cancelled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with effect from the close of business on April 30, 2020

o A customer engagement technology provider, Ameyo has launched video

KYC engagement platform for the banking and finance sector

o Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a loan worth of

$500 million for India’s ‘COVID-19 Emergency .

o SBI General Insurance launched the standard health insurance policy –

Arogya Sanjeevani Health Insurance Policy to provides hospitalisation

cover anywhere in India with sums insured ranging from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5

lakhs.

o Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman launched INR-USD (Rupee-Dollar)

Futures and Options contracts on the two International Exchanges, BSE’s

India INX and NSE’s NSE-IFSC, at GIFT International Financial Services Centre

in Gandhinagar through video conference.

o India gets USD 1 billion loan from BRICS' New Development Bank to fight

COVID-19

o Consumer Affairs department partners with 2 startups Safejob and Seekify

to power ‘Suraksha Store initiative’.

o Money Gram Payment Systems has tied up with Federal Bank to offer a

cost-effective direct-to-bank account credit option for customers in India.

o World Bank gives $1 billion as social security fund for India's urban poor

and migrant workers during the coronavirus crisis.

o HDFC Bank releases song titled #HumHaarNahiMaanenge (We will not

lose) to keep up hopes up amidst Covid-19 pandemic.

o Suryoday Small Finance Bank has rolled out a working capital product with

a small overdraft (OD) limit on a pilot basis in two branches Trichy (Tamil

Nadu) and Cuttack (Odisha) to help its customers meet the urgent liquidity

requirements during the lockdown.

o Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank (KVGB) has launched an emergency loan

facility for farmers. A maximum loan of up to Rs.50,000 will be provided to

meet unforeseen expenses. It is repayable within a period of three years.

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o SBI cuts benchmark lending rate by 15 basis points and introduced Special

Deposit Scheme for senior citizens with higher interest rate. With that, the

marginal cost of funds based lending rate comes down to 7.25 per cent,

from 7.40 per cent with effect from 10th of May.

OBITUARIES

Person About

Ajay Kumar Tripathi Politician

Ajit Jogi First Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh

Ashley Cooper Australian tennis player

Balbir Singh Dosanjh Indian hockey player

Betty Wright Singer

Bhabani Charan Pattnaik Freedom fighter

Bob Watson American baseball player and Houston Astros legend

Chuni Goswami Former India football captain

Dalit Ezhilmalai Former Union Minister

Debesh Roy Bengali author

Denis Goldberg Veteran South African anti apartheid activist

Gigi Simoni Former Inter football coach of Italy

Hana Kimura Wrestler of Japan

Hari Shankar Vasudevan Historian

Hema Bharali Freedom fighter

Jerry Stiller US Comedian

Justice A.K. Tripathi Judicial Member, Lokpal of India

Kazempour Ardebili Iran’s governor of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

KS Nisar Ahmed Kannada poet. He was also known as “Nityotsava Kavi”.

Manmeet Singh Walia India table tennis player

Richard Wayne Pennima Founding father of Rock

Mohit Baghel Bollywood actor

Mujtaba Hussain Urdu Writer

Nissar Ahmed Kannada Poet, Writer

Pandanda Kuttappa Founder of Kodava Family Hockey Tournament

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(KFH)

Raja Rangappa Naik Former Lok Sabha MP

Ratnakar Matkari Marathi Writer and Playwright

Rob Gibbs Director, Story Artist and Writer

Ronald Vivian Smith Writer , historian and columnist

Sai Gundewar Bollywood actor

Shafique Ansari TV series actor of ‘Crime Patrol’

Shanmugam Tamil Nadu footballer and coac

Shyamala G Bhave Vocalist, Classical musician

Miscellaneous News

Israel has named a street in Tel Aviv after celebrated Indian poet

Rabindranath Tagore as a tribute on his 159th birthday on 08 May.

Former Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri has inaugurated the Indian

Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC), which provides a paperless dispute

resolution environment.

Slovenia becomes first coronavirus-free country in Europe.

Manipur black rice also called the Chak-Haom, Gorakhpur Terracotta

,Kashmir saffron and Kadalai Mittai of Kovilpatti got Geographical

Indication tag .

The Sohrai Khovar painting of Jharkhand and Telia Rumal of Telangana

got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag

Facebook has launched a home-to-home fundraiser concert, ‘I For India’.

Facebook has collaborated with some of the biggest stars in India and

Bollywood for this.

Chhattisgarh providing maximum jobs under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) amid the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Visakhapatnam Gas Leak Tragedy: Styrene gas leaked from LG Polymers

Plant in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Tamil Nadu government increases retirement age from 58 years to 59

years.

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Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to provide mid-

day meal ration.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated new 80-km road

with the altitude rises from 6,000 to 17,060 feet in Uttarakhand to Kailash

Mansarovar. Road link from Dharchula, Uttarakhand to Lipulekh at China

Border. It originates from Ghatiabagarh to Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to

Kailash-Mansarovar.

11 brands of Pan Masala banned in the state Jharkhand for one year.

Prime Minister of India announces Economic Package of Rs 20 Lakh Crore to

ensure the rural India from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a special economic package

worth 20 lakh crore rupees for an 'Atma-Nirbhar Bharat' or self-reliant

India, saying that self reliance is the only way to ensure that 21st Century

belongs to India.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has launched a new song

'United We Fight' to Strengthen India's Fight Against COVID-19 to help

people stay united and encourage them to think positive amid the

coronavirus pandemic.

The WHO and the United Nations postal agency have released a postage

stamp on the 40th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox, with the

head of the global health body expressing gratitude to a top Indian-origin

UN official Mr. AtulKhare.

Iran's currency is set to get a new name and re-valued , lose four zeros.

Iran's money rial will soon likely be called the Toman, and an impressive

four zeros.The 10,000 rials will become one Toman

Maharashtra becomes first state in country to provide free and cashless

insurance premium to people of the state Amid the outbreak of COVID-19

pandemic. state will be provided free health treatment under the Mahatma

Jyotiba Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced Economic

Relief package of Rs 20 lakh crore for “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”.

Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) has been

renamed as Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and

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Technology (CIPET), a premier national institution under the Ministry of

Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India

Finance Minister launches free instant e-PAN card facility through Aadhaar.

The United States (US) has joined an international panel G7 artificial

intelligence group for setting ethical guidelines for the use of artificial

intelligence.

President of United States ,Donald Trump announced that America is

terminating its relationship with World Health Organization(WHO) .

Centre reduces EPFO contributions from 12 % to 10 % from May to July

2020.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Postal

Administration (UNPA) have released a commemorative Postage Stamp on

the 40th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox.

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will sell only indigenous products in

their canteens across the country from 01 June 2020 to make the country

self-reliant and use locally-made products.

Indian Railways makes Aarogya Setu app mandatory for all passengers.

“Thermal Corona Combat Headgear” launched by Delhi Police to detect

temperature of a large number of people from a distance of 10-15 metres.

Cyclone Amphan intensified into a super cyclone with wind speed above

200 kmph hit West Bengal & Odisha and moved further towards North-

Northeastwards over West Central Bay.

Singer Lata Mangeskar sung a song titled as JAYTU BHARATAM saluting the

spirit of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

Indian Railways operationalised its 1st 12,000 hp electric Locomotive-

WAG12 with Number 60027. This Locomotive has manufactured by

Madhepura Electric Loco Factory in Bihar.

India has become the 2nd largest manufacturer of Personal Protective

Equipment in the world following China which is currently leading producer

of PPE in the world. A PPE kit consists of shoe cover, gloves, eye shield,

mask, and gown.

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Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill 2020 passed by Lok Sabha which aims to

amend Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 along

with Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.

USA withdraws from Open Skies treaty accusing that Russia has not stuck to

its part of the deal.

Andhra Pradesh government has released the 1st tranche of “ReStart

Package” to help the lockdown-hit Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

(MSMEs) to reopen and become functional.

“Khudol” initiatives Manipur has been listed among the top 10 global

initiatives for an inclusive fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.