May 19,20 Current Affairs
NATIONAL
Jammu&Kashmir
- Prime Minister inaugurates 330 MW Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project; lays Foundation Stone of the Pakal Dul Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir.
- Pakal Dul, with 1000 MW capacity, will be the largest Hydro Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir on completion.
- It is also the first storage Project in Jammu & Kashmir.
- He also laid the foundation stone of the Srinagar Ring Road.
Arunachal Pradesh
LED Solar Street Lighting system
- The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned LED Solar Street Lighting system for Arunachal Pradesh under its Rural Infrastructure Development Fund.
- Chief Minister – Pema Khandu
- NABARD Chairman – Harsh Kumar Bhanwala.
Bihar
Beej Vahan Vikas Vahan Rath
- ‘Krishi Mahabhiyan-cum-Beej Vikas Vahan Rath’ to create alertness among farmers about government schemes for them during Kharif season.
Chhattisgarh
Bastariya Battalion
- Passing Out Parade (PoP) of the ‘Bastariya Battalion’ of CRPF new recruits to be held in Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh.
- The ‘Bastariya’ jawans will be deployed in core area to add teeth to the Anti-Naxal Operations(ANO) of CRPF in the naxal-infested Bastar division of Chhattisgarh.
New Delhi
Children’s Theatre and Personality Development workshop
- The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) will organize a children’s theatre and personality development workshop from 21st May to 21st June, 2018 in partnership with Udaan – the Centre of Theatre Art and Child Development. In this workshop, children will be trained to enhance their fundamental skills and theatrical skills.
Tamilnadu
Tamil Nadu to Build India’s Next Generation Defence Aircraft
- The Aeronautical Development Agency which had designed the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, has set for building the next generation defence aircraft, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), by extending an invitation to private players in Coimbatore to build a technology demonstrator.
INTERNATIONAL
Pakistan to renovate Rawalpindi Krishna temple
- Pakistan’s Punjab province government has released Pakistan Rs.20 million to renovate a Krishna temple in Rawalpindi city.
China lands strategic bombers in SCS for the first time
- China has for the first time landed strategic bombers on an island in the disputed South China Sea (SCS), drawing sharp reaction from the United States.
Russia unveils world’s first floating nuclear power station
- Russia unveiled the world’s first floating nuclear power station at a ceremony in the port of the far northern city of Murmansk, where it will be loaded with nuclear fuel before heading to eastern Siberia.
SCIENCE
TB infection in the eye can lead to autoimmunity
- Researchers from Bhubaneswar have for the first time found evidence of how TB infection of the eye leads to autoimmunity — wherein the immune cells attack the cells of the body instead of protecting them — causing widespread disease of the eye (uveitis).
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
CAG Rajiv Mehrishi calls for a market regulator in event of market failure
- Competition Commission of India celebrated its 9th Annual Day on 20th May 2018 with a lecture delivered by Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, on Competition Law in India: Reflection and Rethinking.
Major conservation, Upgradation at Purana Qila complex
- Central Antiquity Collection(CAC) section at Purana Qila being upgraded to setup museum gallery of invaluable collection of artefacts for wider Public viewing.
- Major conservation, Upgradation and development works by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) underway at the Purana Qila complex in New Delhi.
Government earns Rs.1,400 crore from e-Visa
- The government earned Rs.1,400 crore as revenue from the highly successful e-Visa scheme, offered to citizens of 163 countries visiting India as tourists, since its launch in 2014.
MOU, AGREEMENTS & CABINET APPROVALS
NMDC, NLC to ink R&D pact
- NMDC Limited and NLC India Limited (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation) may invest over USD 26 million for setting up an R&D facility with Australian Environmental Clean Technologies(ECT) Limited for developing innovative technologies in iron and steel making.
- The project is aimed at diversifying the use of lignite (brown coal) in the generation of electricity and production of steel at lower cost with significantly lower CO2 emissions.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES
26th basic Ministerial meeting of Environment Ministers in Durban
- Making an intervention at the 26th BASIC Ministerial Meeting of Environment Ministers in Durban attended by Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
- Green Good Deeds, the societal movement launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change to protect environment and promote good living in the country, has found acceptance by the global community.
DEFENCE
India gears up for AI-driven wars
- In an ambitious defence project, the government has started work on incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the operational preparedness of the armed forces in a significant way, which would include equipping them with unmanned tanks, vessels, aerial vehicles and robotic weaponry.
Joint Naval Exercise
- Indian Navy and Vietnam People’s Navy would be undertaking a joint exercise at Tien Sa Port in Danang.
- India and Vietnam share a robust defence cooperation, especially in the area of maritime security.
SCHEMES
Common Service Centres (CSCs)
- CSC to reach 2.50 lakh gram panchayats and 700 Digital villages to be established by the year end: Union Minister of Electronics & IT.
Asita – Yamuna River
- The Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) inspected the Yamuna River Front Development (RFD) project being implemented by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and asked officials to expedite the work.
- The comprehensive project to restore, rejuvenate and revive Yamuna floodplains was approved by the Principal Committee constituted by the Hon’ble NGT.
- The project is given the name “Asita” which is another name of river Yamuna.
Permanent Residency Status (PRS) scheme
- The Scheme promises facilities for foreigners who invest atleast Rs.10 crore under the FDI route.
- The scheme is open for foreign investors who invest a minimum of Rs.10 crore within 18 months or Rs.25 crore in 36 months.
- The PRS card holders are also eligible to buy residential property in India.
RANKINGS & INDEXES
India sixth wealthiest country with total wealth of $8,230 billion
- India is the sixth wealthiest country in the world with a total wealth of $8,230 billion, while the U.S. is the richest nation globally followed by China in the second place and Japan in third says a report.
AWARDS
India’s Jagriti Yatra wins charity award in UK
- An Indian Jagriti charity that organises 15-day train journeys around India to understand and build the India of smaller towns and villages through enterprise has won an Asian Voice charity awards in London.
APPOINTMENTS
- President of Hockey India (HI) – Rajinder Singh
- New I&B secretary – Amit Khare
SPORTS
FA Cup final
- Soccer Football – FA Cup Final Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0
Italian Open final Tennis
- Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic 7- 6(4), 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final, Rome.