Current Affairs Articles

Sapta Shakti Command of Indian Army conducted Exercise ‘Sudarshan Shakti 2023’ along the Western borders in Rajasthan and Punjab from 22 to 25 May 2023. Exercise ‘Sudarshan Shakti 2023’, was designed to validate operational plans in a network-centric environment. The elements of combat power, combat support and logistic support were exercised in a synergised application under all domains of enemy threat including Grey Zone Warfare as part of high tempo operations. Integrated use of force...

Kami Rita Sherpa, a renowned climber from Nepal, has once again etched his name in the annals of history with an enormous display of his mountaineering prowess. The 53-year-old Sherpa has accomplished an astounding 28 successful ascents of the formidable Mt. Everest, breaking his own previous record. The spring 2023 climbing season for Sherpa has proven to be nothing less than monumental. On May 17, only a few days before his record-breaking ascent, he had already ascended Everest for the 27th...

According to the information received from the media on 23 May 2023, the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Municipal Commissioner of Patna Municipal Corporation of Bihar launched the digital currency E-Rupee generated by the Reserve Bank of India due to which now this digital currency will be used in the entire Patna Municipal Corporation area. From payment to other work, erupees will also be used. This payment system will be completely adopted in the Municipal Corporation Headquarters Mauryalok...

Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Giriraj Singh launched 'SAMARTH Abhiyan' to promote digital transactions in 50000 Gram Panchayats under Amrit Mahotsav on 25 May 2023 in Lucknow. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which celebrates 75 years of India's independence. The campaign started on February 1, 2023 and will continue till August 15, 2023. Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development, the campaign aims to...

The Maharashtra government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is set to launch a new initiative called ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ (government at your doorstep). The primary objective of this initiative is to provide citizens with easy access to government schemes and documents, all in one place. District administrations have been directed to organize two-day camps in their respective areas to facilitate the distribution of benefits to approximately 75,000 locals. The inaugural...

India has won two medals in the women's skeet event at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Shotgun Shooting competition in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It was the first time that India won two individual medals in women's skeet at the Senior ISSF World Cup. Ganemat Sekhon won silver which was her second-ever individual world cup medal. In her first appearance at the senior level, Darshna Rathore won bronze making it her a first-ever. Local favourite Assem Orynbay of Kazakhstan won...

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared the southern state as India's first fully e-governed state where an entire range of government services have been digitised so that they can be provided to the citizens promptly and transparently. The Chief Minister, after declaring the state as totally e-governed, said it would not only create a network of government offices and citizens, but would use technology for Kerala's development and empower the people by bridging the digital divide....

India's leading IT services company Infosys has launched 'Topaz', a comprehensive suite of services, solutions and platforms that harnesses the power of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Topaz is built on Infosys' Applied AI Framework, enabling the development of an AI-first core that enhances the capabilities of individuals and organizations to deliver cognitive solutions and accelerate value creation. "We are seeing strong interest from our clients for efficiency and...

The Australian Government has announced that Harris Park, a suburb of Sydney, will now be known as 'Little India'. The Little India Cultural Complex will help develop Harris Park's business district. The first proposal to officially name the area 'Little India' was made in 2015. In the last 10 to 15 years it has become a favorite destination for Indian expatriates. Local media reports said the 2021 census showed that 45 percent of Harris Park's 5,043 residents are of Indian origin. Harris Park...

Axiom Space, a private space habitat company, recently launched their latest mission, Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission aims to conduct experiments on human stem cell ageing, inflammation, and cancer in the unique microgravity environment of space. The findings from these experiments not only contribute to the well-being of astronauts but also hold potential for advancing cancer treatment on Earth. The private astronaut missions conducted by Axiom...

The ‘Tiger Shark 40’ Joint Bangladesh-US Naval drill Exercise commenced at BNS Nirvik in Chattogram. The main aim of the exercise is to enhance the strategic capabilities of both countries and promote mutual exchange of technical and procedural knowledge. The objective of the exercise is to increase strategic capabilities of both the countries and to acquire mutual technical and procedural knowledge. It is being undertaken to improve the existing good relations between the armed forces of the...

Dr K. Govindaraj elected as the President of International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Asia. He is a Congress MLC. He is also the President of Basketball Federation of India and President of Karnataka Olympic Association. Govindaraj was unanimously nominated to take over as President of FIBA Asia. This is the first time that an Indian has been nominated as the President of FIBA Asia. The nomination was ratified at the FIBA Asia Congress making Govindaraj, the first Indian to lead the...

Recently, Ministry of Civil Aviation launched UDAN 5.1, specifically designed for helicopter routes. About UDAN 5.1 Scheme:- After four successful rounds of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) and with the version 5.0 of the fifth round underway, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1 to further enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters. The main features include:- An increase...

The Prime Minister of India during the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on 9th September 2019, announced the establishment of Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM) at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. CoE-SLM aims to promote South-South Cooperation and address land degradation issues through sustainable land management practices. Shri Bhupendra Yadav,Union Minister of...

Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to send senior citizens on pilgrimage by air under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. This first batch of 32 pilgrims took off on 20 May 2023 from Raja Bhoj Airport Bhopal to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh by Indigo's flight. These pilgrims include 24 men and eight women. Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana is one of the major schemes of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state. At present, under the scheme, one member of a...

The World Health Organization on 20 May 2023 launched the 'International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN)', a global network to help share information to rapidly detect and prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The objective of this network is to rapidly identify and track infectious disease threats and share information and take action to prevent disasters such as the COVID pandemic. Vision:- A world where every country has equitable access to sustained capacity for...

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday approved the first Good Governance Regulations of the country which aims to make the State administration more accountable, accessible, dynamic, and transparent. These regulations will also include the formation of a separate cell to take action on the effects of climate change. Apart from this, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has made a provision for the formation of a special unit to deal with the effects of climate change. Maharashtra has...

The Union Health Ministry has launched a bold initiative to screen and provide standard care to 75 million individuals suffering from hypertension and diabetes by 2025. This significant announcement was made during the G20 co-branded event called “Accelerating the Prevention and Management of Hypertension and Diabetes,” which was organized by the Union Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO). This initiative has been launched by the Union Health Ministry and the World Health...

The state’s first Education Web-3 Metaverse event was organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Kaloh, in Una district wherein students from 15 nearby schools were given a hands-on experience of the technology used in virtual reality (VR). The event was held under the aegis of the district administration and two technical agencies — Cruise Fare and ICP India Hub. Metaverse, a vision of the computer industry, will be the next iteration of the Internet, which will be single, shared,...

On May 17, 2023, under 'Operation Dwasth', the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in collaboration with the Punjab and Haryana Police raided 324 locations in six states and two union territories. During the raid, the officials recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition, besides several incriminating material. The day-long raids focused on weapon suppliers, financiers, logistic providers and hawala operators associated with the hardcore gangs working with drug smugglers and terrorists based...

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has moved a step forward by centralising the strike off process of companies with the establishment of the Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE).  The establishment of the C-PACE will help to reduce the stress on the Registry along with keeping the registry clean besides availability of more meaningful data to the stakeholders. The C-PACE will also benefit the stakeholders by providing a hassle-free filing, timely and process-bound...

To empower the youth, the Government of Madhya Pradesh has unveiled the Mukhyamantri Seekho-Kamao Yojana with an aim to provide young individuals with the opportunity to learn and master their desired professions while earning a steady income each month. For this scheme, natives of Madhya Pradesh in the age group of 18 to 29 years, whose educational qualification is 12th pass students, graduates, postgraduates and diploma holders will be eligible for the scheme. A Monthly Stipend is also...

The Reserve Bank of India has decided to withdraw 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation on May 19, 2023 and asked everyone to replace them by September 30, 2023. However, Rs 2,000 notes will continue to be legal tender. The central bank said: "In pursuance of the "Clean Note Policy" of the Reserve Bank of India, it has been decided to withdraw ₹2000 denomination bank notes from circulation. ₹2000 denomination bank notes will continue to be legal tender. The facility to exchange Rs...

The Gajraj Corps of the Indian Army recently conducted a joint flood relief exercise called ‘Jal Rahat’ at Hagrama Bridge on Manas River in Assam. The purpose of the exercise was to validate joint drills and enhance coordination among multiple agencies involved in flood relief operations. The event witnessed the participation of various organizations, including the Indian Army, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force...

Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran was honoured with the prestigious “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur" (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna. The French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, presented the award to Chandrasekaran on behalf of the French President. Earlier this year, Tata Group-owned Air India signed a multi-billiondollar deal with Airbus to buy 250 aircraft from Airbus, including 210...

A centre for research on extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) was inaugurated at Shoolini University. It was inaugurated by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India vice-president Swami Smaranananda Giri. He completed his PhD in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the IIT-Kharagpur and a post-doctoral fellowship from Concordia University in Montreal (Canada). The mission is to make a significant and measurable impact on the society with a combination of cutting-edge...

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has launched a mobile application called “Meri LiFE” (My Life) to mobilize youth for climate change ahead of World Environment Day on 5th June. The Ministry has developed two dedicated portals for LiFE: the Mission LiFE Portal and the Meri LiFE Portal. The application will foster a nationwide movement for LiFE, demonstrating the power of citizens in saving the environment. Through this app, the impacts of simple actions in daily life can...

Uttar Pradesh now holds second position in the country in terms of having the maximum number of Geographical Indication-tagged goods after receiving GI tags for three more ODOP crafts. The ODOP crafts that have received GI tags include Mainpuri tarkashi, Mahoba Gaura stone craft, and Sambhal horn craft. While Tamil Nadu leads with 55 GI-tagged goods, UP and Karnataka follow with 48 and 46 GI products, respectively. However, UP is first in terms of GI-tagged handicrafts with 36 crafts to its...

Kerala has become the first state to set up a welfare fund for workers of the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Employment Guarantee Workers Welfare Fund at a function to be held in Palakkad on May 15. Launching the initiative, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the workers who have completed the age of 60 will be entitled for pension under the fund which will also provide financial assistance for medical treatment,...

Ravneet Kaur, a 1988 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Apart from his postgraduation degree in Economics, she has vast experience having served in various Economic Ministries of the Central Government over the last 15 years. Ravneet Kaur has been serving the state cadre (Punjab) since July 2019 after her tenure as the Chairman and Managing Director of India Tourism Development Corporation (2017- 19). There is...

Vuppala Prraneeth, a 15-year-old chess player from Telangana, has won the Grandmaster title, becoming the 6th from the state and 82nd in India. He achieved this feat by defeating GM Hans Niemann of America during the final round of Baku Open 2023. The win also helped him surpass his Elo rating of 2500, specifically 2500.5. Prraneeth received his first GM-norm and the title of International Master (IM) in March 2022. He earned his second GM-norm in July 2022 at Biel MTO, followed by his final...

Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Sonitpur district of Assam. It is a part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori ecosystem consisting of moist alluvial grasslands, coastal and semi-evergreen forests formed by wetlands and river systems. Encompassing an impressive area of 44.06 square kilometers, the Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary offers a diverse landscape that is home to a wide array of flora and fauna. In 1974, the Bura Chapori Wildlife...

Educationist Manoj Soni has been sworn in as the 31st chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 16 May 2023. Manoj Soni, who joined the commission as a member on June 28, 2017, is performing the duties of UPSC chairman with effect from April 5, 2022. He has replaced the 30th Chairman Pradeep Kumar Joshi. Prior to joining UPSC, Dr Soni studied Political Science with specialization in International Relation Studies and earned doctorate in “ Post-Cold War International Systemic...

INS Kavaratti, indigenously designed & built ASW Corvette, arrived at Batam, Indonesia to participate in the 4th edition of India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti-23 from 14-19 May 23. An Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter is also participating. The Indonesian Navy will be represented by KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and AS565 Panther Helicopter. The primary objective of Samudra Shakti exercise is to enhance...

The GMR Hyderabad International Airport has achieved a global feat by recording the most punctual airport in the world. A recently released report by aviation analytical firm, CIrium, stated that the airport recorded 90.43 percent on-time performance. It was followed by Kempegowda International (BLR) in Bengaluru with 86.14%, followed by Bogota's El Dorado International (BOG) in Colombia. Hyderabad airport is the only airport in the world to cross the 90 per cent mark. Hyderabad airport topped...

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy issued an order to transfer all rights to the farmers of the state in one stroke from the British era revenue record category of 'dotted land' to over two lakh acres of land. He said 97,471 families will benefit from this move as these lands are deleted from Section 22 A of the registration law. The registration value of this land is around Rs 8,000 crore and their market value is at least Rs 20,000 crore. 'The Dotted Land' :- Reddy said that...

Yashasvi Jaiswal, a player for the Rajasthan Royals, has been performing exceptionally well in the IPL 2023. The 21-year-old Jaiswal holds the record for the fastest half-century in IPL by completing his halfcentury in just 13 balls during a match played against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The 56th match of IPL 2023 was played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens ground. This surpassed the previous record held by KL Rahul and Pat Cummins, who both reached 50...

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the Indian Space Policy 2023 which has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The policy aims to play a pivotal role in the entry of India into the new space age. However, it requires to fulfill all the relevant legislation along with certain norms and guidelines. Till the 1990s, India's space industry and space economy was known through ISRO. There was limited involvement of the private sector in creating the ISRO designs...

Ministry of Railways has launched ‘One Station One Product’ (OSOP) scheme over Indian Railways with objectives to promote ‘Vocal for Local’ vision of the Government of India, provide a market for local/indigenous products and create additional income opportunities for the marginalised sections of society. Under the scheme, OSOP outlets at railway stations are allotted for showcasing, selling and giving high visibility to indigenous /local products. The pilot of the scheme was started on...

On 11 May 2023, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 'Smart School Smart Block' program at the auditorium located at Goralchod in Champawat district of the state. New dimensions will be achieved in the field of education through the 'Smart School Smart Block' program in the state. This step taken in the direction of making Champawat an ideal district is also a good initiative for ideal Uttarakhand. This work of providing modern education to the person standing at the...

Deepak Bhoria, Hussamuddin and Nishant Dev scripted history by ensuring India's best ever performance at the prestigious tournament with three medals at the men's World Boxing Championships in Tashkent. Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Hussamuddin (57kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg) won bronze medals in the semi-finals. The Men's World Boxing Championships is held in Uzbekistan (from April 30 to May 14, 2023). With three bronze, India finished joint fourth in the medals tally at the prestigious tournament,...

The most befitting recipient of the very first ASI Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement award is Prof. Jayant V. Narlikar, an astronomer par-excellence, the founding director of IUCAA, Pune and also a past President of the ASI. Though the award was announced earlier this year at the 41st meeting of the ASI held at IIT Indore, Prof. Narlikar was unable to travel to receive it. The President of the ASI, Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, was in Pune to personally hand over the award to Prof. Narlikar and...

Mr Musk announced on 12 May 2023 that he was hiring Linda Yacarino as the new CEO of San Francisco-based Twitter, now called X Corp. Linda will take over Twitter in the coming weeks. Musk said Linda would focus primarily on business operations while he himself would focus on product design and new technology. Linda Yacarino:- Ms. Yacarino, 60, has worked as an advertising executive for decades. She oversaw the integration of advertising sales platforms at NBCUniversal in 2011. Prior to that,...

The need of the hour is that all the state government agencies should collaborate, connect, and respond to the needs of the public more efficiently by accessing accurate and real-time data, the CM said. Himachal government agencies should collaborate, connect, and respond to the needs of the public more efficiently by accessing accurate and real-time data, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said. “The Him Data Portal will bring valuable data from multiple domains together of various...

Medal winners from the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship were felicitated at the Sports Authority of India by Deputy Director Generals Smt Ekta Vishnoi and Sh Shiv Sharma. The girls bagged a total of 17 medals from the competition held this month in Russia. All these girls were participants at the Khelo India Women's leagues held in India across a year. The girls bagged 10 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals in the junior girls, sub-junior girls and senior girls categories across Sanda (Fight)...

The population of the Himalayan monal, the former state bird, has risen to 176 at the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), a UNESCO world heritage site, in Kullu district, revealed a survey conducted by the park authorities for 2022-23. Last year, the strength of the bird was 168, while it was merely 90 in 2015-16. The Himalayan monal is continuously under threat from poachers because of its colourful crest, which people use to decorate their caps. However, the use of the crest of the bird on...

A traditional Cham Lama dance is an event held by Tibetan monasteries during special Buddhist festivals. Monks in colorful costumes wear masks and they dance to the music played from traditional instruments (such as the ritual drum), also performed by monks. The longer it goes on, the more they seem to get in a trance. Where did the cham dance originate? The cham dance was first performed in Tibet more than 300 years ago in celebration of the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava. Now, cham dances...

Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the third phase of Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) of the Health Ministry which is being supported by Coal India Limited as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to commemorate World Thalassemia Day. She also launched the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana Portal.  Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, Shri Anil Kumar Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Dr Rajiv Bahl,...

The annual five-day Great Prayer Festival, "Ladakh Monlam Chenmo," a collective prayer camp by Buddhist monks and nuns for world peace and happiness began on 11 May 2023 in Leh, Ladakh. The annual congregational prayer is resuming this year after being closed for three years due to Covid. Monlam Chenmo is a major annual prayer of the Sangh community of Ladakh who gather on one platform. This program is being organized by All Ladakh Gonpa Association. On the side-lines of the event, Member of...

Amid a steady rise in the deaths of pedestrians and cyclists, the Punjab government has implemented the 'right to walk' for the first time in the country. Under this, pedestrian paths and cycle tracks will be made everywhere. The existing tracks will also be audited and their deficiencies will be checked. The government has directed all agencies like the Public Works Department, local bodies, NHAI and urban development departments to prepare an action plan for laying footpaths and cycle tracks...