Current Affairs 2024

Kerala Became India's First Fully E-Governed State [23 May 2023]

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kerala India's first fully e-governed state while speaking at the 'Total e-Governance Kerala' event in Thiruvananthapuram. The e-office system had already been implemented in the Secretariat, district collectorates, commissionerates, and directorates. The e-district project would soon be extended to taluk-level offices. In panchayats, 250 services were delivered online. A digital university, being hailed as the country's first, and a digital science park worth Rs. 1,500 crore were also announced at the event. The delivery of vital services covering health, education, land revenue, documentation of properties, public distribution system, and social security payouts have already been digitized, according to a government statement.

Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel Win International Booker Prize 2023 [23 May 2023]

Time Shelter, written by Georgi Gospodinov and translated into English by Angela Rodel, won the International Booker Prize 2023 in London. This is the first time a novel originally published in Bulgarian has won the annual award, given to a work of fiction translated into English and published in the United Kingdom in the preceding year. The novel tells the story of the mysterious Gaustine and his "clinic for the past", whose premise of treating Alzheimer's a disease that robs one of memory, the foundational aspect of life—sounds deceptively simple. The winners Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel— were awarded the newly-renamed Booker trophy, the 'Iris', and a cash prize of £25,000 each.

International Day for Biodiversity, 2023 [22 May 2023]

May 22 is declared as The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) by the United Nations to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. It was declared for the first time by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity). In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Prime Minister Honoured with the Highest Civilian Award of Papua New Guinea [22 May 2023]

In a special ceremony at the Government House, H.E. Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea (PNG) conferred Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL). This is the highest civilian award of PNG and the award recipients are titled 'Chief'. Prime Minister traveled to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where he hosted the 3rd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) jointly with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, H.E. Mr. James Marape.

PM Narendra Modi Honoured With Fiji's Top Award 'Companion of the Order' [22 May 2023]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the highest honour of Fiji by its premier Sitiveni Rabuka in recognition of his global leadership in a rare honour for a non-Fijian. The Companion is conferred upon citizens, or other foreigners in recognition of eminent achievement or the highest degree of meritorious service to Fiji or humanity. Prime Minister Modi dedicated the honour to the people of India and to the generations of the Fiji-Indian community, who have played a key role in the special and enduring bond between the two countries.

UDAN 5.1 Launched with Focus on Helicopter Routes [22 May 2023]

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1, the latest version of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), to improve connectivity in remote areas. The version has been specifically designed for helicopter routes and aims to reduce airfare caps by 25% to make flying more affordable. Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia said that the scheme is a testament to two emerging phenomena in India's civil aviation-first, deeper democratization of air travel with a focus on last-mile connectivity, and second, a growing appetite for helicopters in aiding tourism.

ISSF World Cup: Indian Shooters Ganemat Sekhon and Darshna Rathore Make History [21 May 2023]

Indian Shooters Ganemat Sekhon and Darshna Rathore made history by winning two senior individual medals in the women’s skeet event at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup stage held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Ganemat Sekhon secured the silver medal, marking her second-ever individual world cup medal. Making her first-ever individual world cup medal. In the men’s skeet event, Mairaj Khan, Gurjoat Khangura, and Anantjeet Singh Naruka represented India but unfortunately fell short of qualifying for the finals.

The QUAD Summit 2023 in Japan [20 May 2023]

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India met in Hiroshima for the fifth convening of the QUAD Leaders' Summit. The QUAD is committed to supporting the region's development, stability, and prosperity to benefit the people of the Indo-Pacific. The leaders' ambitious efforts include major initiatives on infrastructure, maritime security, public-private partnership, climate, health, critical and emerging technologies, and space. The Leaders agreed to continue their regular dialogue and maintain the momentum of QUAD engagement. In this context. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited QUAD Leaders to India for the next QUAD Summit in 2024.

Manchester City Wins Premier League 2023 Title [20 May 2023]

Manchester City won the English Premier League title for the third season in a row after second-placed Arsenal were defeated 1-0. City was confirmed as champions for the fifth time in six seasons. Arsenal, who enjoyed an eight-point lead over City as recently as mid-March, needed at least a point to stay mathematically in the hunt, but went down 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend G7 summit in Japan [19 May 2023]

Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-nation tour of Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia on May 19 to attend G7 Summit at Hiroshima in Japan at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, the first session relates to food, health, development, and gender equality, the second session to climate, energy, and the environment. and the third session is titled "Towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world".

India and European Union agree to coordinate their policies in Strategic semi-conductor [18 May 2023]

India and the European Union will coordinate their policies with regard to the strategic semiconductor sector, with the aim of concluding a Memorandum of Understanding by September 2023. According to the joint statement issued after the first India- EU Trade and Technology Council meeting held in Brussels, the two sides will work towards bridging the digital skills gap, explore Mutual Recognition of certifications, and make progress on the promotion of skilled professionals and exchange of talent. They will also enhance cooperation on IT and Telecoms Standardisation with a particular focus on promoting interoperable standards. External Affairs Minister Dr. S . Jaishankar, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, visited Brussels to Jointly co-chair the first Ministerial meeting of the India – EU Trade and Technology Council on 16th of this month.

Cabinet Reshuffle: Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal gets Additional Portfolio of Law [16 May 2023]

Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed as the new Minister of State independent charge in the Ministry of Law and Justice Minister, in addition to his existing portfolios. Kiran Rijiju, the former Law and Justice Minister will now head the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel has been assigned as Minister of State in the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, having previously served as Minister of State in the Law and Justice Ministry.

Barcelona Wins La Liga Football Crown 2023 [14 May 2023]

Barcelona FC emerged winner of the La Liga title 2023 with a 4-2 victory over city rivals Espanyol. Barcelona has won its Spanish football league title for the first time since 2019 and 27th La Liga title overall. Real Madrid secured the second position on the points table after Barcelona.

Indian Pair Divya TS and Sarabjot Singh Win Gold in 10m Air pistol Mixed Event at ISSF world Cup [12 May 2023]

In a remarkable display of skill and precision at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Word Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Indian duo of Divya TS and Sarabjot Singh emerged victorious in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Against formidable Serbian opponents Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic, the Indian pair exhibited extraordinary composure and clinched a tense 16 –14 triumph in the final match. This triumph marked Sarabjot’s second ISSF World Cup gold, having already this year, while for Divya, it represented a maiden senior medal at the international level.

PM inaugurates Development Projects worth Rs. 2450 core in Gujarat [12 May 2023]

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth over Rs. 2450 crore in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The projects include the augmentation of ulti-village drinking water supply schemes in Basankantha district and Gandhinagar district, a river overbridge in Ahmedabad, a drainage collection network at Naroda GIDC, sewage treatment plants in Mehsana and Ahmedabad, an auditorium in Dahegam, buk pipeline projects in Junagadh district, flyover bridges, new water distribution station, and various town planning roads.

India Clinches Men's Doubles Title at Badminton Asia Championships [11 May 2023]

In a remarkable feat at the Badminton Asia Championship 2023, Indian duo Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy secure the men's doubles title by defeating Malaysian pair Teo Ee Yi and Ong Yew Sin in the final. The Indian pair displayed their exceptional skills, beating their opponents with a score of 16-21, 21-17 and 21-19. This is a significant achievement for the premier Indian men's doubles team as they become the first pair to clinch the Badminton Asia Championships title since Dinesh Khanna in 1965.

Y20 Consultation: Discussions held on Climate Protection & Sustainable development [10 May 2023]

India hosted the Youth 20(Y20) groups Y20 Consultation at the University of Kashmir from 10-11 May 2023, as part of its G20 presidency. The event aimed to counsel the youth of the country on ideas for a better tomorrow and draft a plan for action on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life, which is one of the five themes of the Y20 group of G20. The two-day event swirled around youth participation in tackling some of the most pressing global issues like threats of climate change, promotion of sustainable development, and green energy.

India Israel commits to Improve Connectivity, Defence Manufacturing Arrangements [09 May 2023]

Foreign Minister of Israel, Mr Eli Cohen visited India on 9th May and met Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues including strengthening the strategic relations, expanding the Abraham Accords, and promoting a free trade agreement that will boost Israel’s economy. Mr Eli Cohen suggested that India, Israel, and Arab countries could expand regional connecting goods from India by ship at Arab ports, onwards to the Israeli port of Hafia. The two sides also exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding according to which Israel will take in 42,000 Indians to work in the fields of construction and nursing.

Telangana Becomes First Indian State to Launch State Robotics Framework [09 May 2023]

The Telangana government launched the State Robotics Framework, a first-of-its-kind policy in India, aimed at creating a sustainable robotics ecosystem and positioning the state as a leader in the field of robotics. The Telangana State Robotics Framework, launched by IT Minister KT Rama Rao with a robot as the co-host, is aimed at creating a sustainable robotics ecosystem that facilitates innovation, entrepreneurship, and research & development, positioning Telangana as a leader in the field of robotics. This is the sixth framework in line being formulated and launched by the State's Emerging Technologies wing under its unique Policy, Partnerships and Projects(PPP) Framework.

India Overtakes Australia to claim top spot in Latest ICC Test Rankings [08 May 2023]

The International Cricket Council has announced that India has surpassed Australia to become the number-one Test team in the latest rankings. Australia's 15th-month reign at the top has come to an end, with India taking over as the top-ranked team ahead of the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final. India Currently holds 121 points, while Australia stands in the second spot with 116 points. The Indian team's impressive performance in the Border Gavaskar trophy earlier this year, where they beat Australia 2-1, has played a vital role in securing the top spot.

SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Goa [05 May 2023]

The two-day Foreign Ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) was held on 5th May, with the member countries discussing a range of issues such as startups, traditional medicine, youth empowerment, Buddhist heritage, and Science and Technology. The theme of India's Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is SECURE-SCO. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic, and people-to-people interactions in the region.

India launches "Operation Kaveri" to Bring back citizens stranded in Sudan [28 Apr 2023]

The Indian Government has scrambled warships and planes to bring back citizens stranded in Sudan which is experiencing high volatility due to the ongoing conflict. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has spoken to his counterparts in the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and the UK for cooperation in the evacuation operation. Under Operation Kaveri, the first flight carrying 360 Indian Nationals arrived in New Delhi on 26th April, and another 246 Indians arrived in Mumbai on 27th April. According to Foreign Secretary Shri Vijay Mohan Kwatra, Sudan hosts around 3500 Indians and 1000 persons of Indian Origins. To efficiently manage the evacuation, the Indian government has established communication networks within Sudan for Indians to pass on information about the situation and advised them to register online.

India jumps 6 places to Rank 38 in World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2023 [26 Apr 2023]

India improves in the logistics ranking of the World Bank by jumping 6 places to Rank 38 out of 139 countries in the 7th edition of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI 2023). India has been taking numerous initiatives since 2015 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to improve its logistics efficiency. The World Bank has acknowledged India’s efforts towards increasing logistics efficiency. On 4 out of 6 LPI indicators, India has seen remarkable improvement on the back of various initiatives being implemented over the past few years. This is a strong indicator of India’s global positioning, with this development being powered by our Government’s laser focus on reforms for improving logistics infrastructure. In October 2021, the Government of India launched the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) towards a coordinated approach, leveraging technology, for infrastructure planning and development. PMGS envisages breaking silos among different Departments / Ministries in States / UTs by combining all relevant data on a National Master Plan and State Master Plans (portals) respectively. It is a GIS-based tool that integrates existing and proposed infrastructure initiatives of different Central Ministries, to ensure first and last-mile connectivity, for seamless movement of people and goods. At the heart is intense communication and extensive data sharing among Central and State agencies promoting a collaborative approach. Through the power of technology and collaborative efforts of concerned agencies put together, PM GatiShakti addresses the emerging need of transforming the logistics landscape due to factors like rapid urbanization, changing energy choices, e-commerce, the need to develop resilient supply chains, etc.

PGCIL wins Global Gold Award for CSR work [25 Apr 2023]

Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.(PGCIL), a Maharatna CPSU of the Ministry of Power, Government of India has been conferred Global Gold Award by The Green Organization. The recognition was given at the Green World Awards 2023 function held Miami in the USA yesterday. Dr. V. K. Singh, Director (Personnel), POWERGRID received the award on behalf of the organization. The award is a recognition of POWERGRID’s CSR work for improving Agriculture Productivity and Rural Livelihood through watershed management, community participation, and better crop management practices in 10 villages of Jaipatna Block of Kalahandi District in Odisha. This is a 60-month farmer-centric project started in late October 2019 with a withdrawal plan to ensure its sustainability. POWERGRID emphasizes being involved in a number of CSR programs for the community and environment.

Anant Maheshwari appointed as NASSCOM Chairman for 2023-24 [25 Apr 2023]

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has appointed Microsoft India's president Anant Maheshwari as its Chairperson for the year 2023-24, promoting him from his previous tenure as vice-chairperson. He has taken the reins from Krishnan Ramanujam, who heads business and technology services at Tata Consultancy Services. NASSCOM also announced the appointment of Rajesh Nambiar, Chair¬man and MD, Cognizant India as its Vice Chairperson for the same time frame.

Cabinet approves Rs.6003.65 Cr National Quantum Mission [25 Apr 2023]

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) at a cost of Rs. 6003.65 core. The Mission is set to run from 2023-24 to 2030-32 and will focus on seeding, nurturing, and scaling up scientific and industrial R & D, helping India to leverage itself as a leading nation in the area of quantum technology. The Mission would greatly benefit communication, health, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design and space applications. It will provide a huge boost to national priorities like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

Antim Panghal Clinches Silver at Asian Wrestling Championships [25 Apr 2023]

Antim Panghal won silver at the 2023 Asian Wrestling Championships in the 53kg category title clash in Astana, Kazakhstan. She lost to Japan's Akari Fujinami, the reigning world champion, who successfully defended her Asian crown. Four other Indian wrestlers including Anshu Malik (57 kg), Sonam Malik (62 kg), Manisha (65 kg), and Reetika (72 kg) added to India's medal tally by winning their bronze medal.

Aman Sehrawat clinches India's First Gold at Asian Wrestling Championship [22 Apr 2023]

Shri Aman Sehrawat won India's first gold medal at the Asian Wrestling Championship 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan by beating his opponent in the men's 57 kg freestyle category on the penultimate day of the completion. He defeated Kyrgyzstan's Almaz Smanbekov 9-4. Aman Sehrawat's victory in Astana ensured the men's freestyle 57 kg gold medal stayed with India for the fourth year running. This was Aman Sehrawat's second podium of the year.

Ratan Tata Honoured With Australia's Highest Civilian Honour [22 Apr 2023]

Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, was felicitated with Australia's highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia, for his efforts in strengthening the India-Australia bilateral relations in New Delhi. The Order of Australia honour comes a month after the industrialist was appointed as an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to fostering Indo-Australia ties, specifically in trade, investment, and philanthropy. Known for his humility, Ratan Tata took charge as the chairman of the group in March 1991 and stepped down in 2012.

Indian Aviation retains FAA Category-1 status [21 Apr 2023]

India has retained the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category-1 status. Notably, air carriers of Category-1 countries are permitted to operate or expand their services to destinations in the US and codeshare with US air carriers. The US FAA, under its IASA programme, had conducted an audit of India's Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the areas covering aircraft operations, airworthiness, and personnel licensing. The Category-1 determination has come at a time when Indian aviation is on a high growth trajectory and air carriers in India have major capacity induction and expansion plans.

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