Suresh Mukund becomes 1st Indian to win annual ‘World Choreography Award 2020′
The Emmy Award-nominated Indian choreographer Suresh Mukund, has won the 10th Annual ‘World Choreography Award 2020’, (also known as Choreo Awards), becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious honour. He won the award in the ‘TV REALITY SHOW/COMPETITION’ category, for his work on the hit American TV reality show ‘World of Dance’.
Mukund is the director and choreographer of the Indian dance crew ‘The Kings’, which won the 2019 season of World of Dance. The World Choreography Awards, famously known as the “Oscars of Dance”, takes place every year, in Los Angeles, to showcase the most innovative and original works by the world’s best choreographers featured in television, film, commercials, digital content, and music videos.
National Anti Terrorism Day: 21 May
In India, the National Anti Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 to commemorate the death anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. The day is also observed to spread the message of peace, harmony, and humankind and to promote unity among the people. Rajiv Gandhi was India’s youngest Prime Minister. He was appointed as the sixth Prime Minister of the country and served the nation from 1984 to 1989.
Mr Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a human bomb. He was killed in Tamil Nadu in a campaign by a terrorist. Then, under the V.P. Singh government, the centre has decided to observe 21st May as Anti Terrorism Day.
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is observed globally on 21 May every year. The day aims to celebrate the richness of the world’s cultures and highlight the significance of its diversity as an agent of inclusion and positive change for achieving peace and sustainable development.
History of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development:
In the year 2001, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the ‘Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity’ as a result of the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001. Then in December 2002, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in its resolution 57/249, declared 21 May to be World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Director-General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay.
- UNESCO formation: 4 November 1946.
- UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
Indian Navy Designs Oxygen Recycling System to mitigate oxygen shortage
The Indian Navy has designed an Oxygen Recycling System (ORS) to mitigate the existing Oxygen shortages. Indian Navy’s Diving School of the Southern Naval Command has conceptualised and designed the System as they have expertise in this area because the basic concept is used in some of the diving sets used by the school.
ORS will extend the life of the existing medical oxygen cylinders by two to four times, using the fact that only a small percentage of oxygen inhaled by a patient is actually absorbed by the lungs, while the rest is exhaled along with carbon dioxide produced by the body.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.
- Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Jagannath Pahadia passes away
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Jagannath Pahadia has passed away due to COVID-19. He served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 6 June 1980 to 14 July 1981. Apart from this, he was also a former Governor of Haryana and Bihar.
Former NSG Chief JK Dutt, Who Led 26/11 Counter-Terror Ops, Passes Away
J.K. Dutt, former Director-General of the National Security Guards (NSG) who headed the force during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, passed away due to COVID-19 related complications. JK Dutt saw counter-terror and rescue efforts during operation Black Tornado in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
The NSG condoled the death of the 1971 batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre who served the force from August 2006 to February 2009. He also served in various positions in the CBI and the Central Industrial Security Force.
Martha Koome becomes Kenya’s first woman chief justice
Martha Karambu Koome is Kenya’s first woman chief justice. She is the first woman to head any of the three branches of government. Koome, 61, a calm but staunch women’s rights crusader, takes over the judiciary ahead of next year’s general elections and would likely play a decisive role in adjudicating any eventual election disputes.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Kenya Capital: Nairobi;
- Kenya Currency: Kenyan shilling;
- Kenya President:Uhuru Kenyatta.
Karnataka ranks first in executing Ayushman Bharat
Karnataka has been ranked first in establishing Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat Program to provide comprehensive primary health care in rural areas. Karnataka is leading in implementing the project for 2020-2021. While the Centre had set a target of establishing 2,263 centres, the State has upgraded 3,300 centres till March 31. With a score of 90 out of 95, the state ranks on top when it comes to the implementation of the project for the year 2020- 21 as per the health and family welfare department.
With the objective of providing quality health care for all under the Ayushman Bharat – Arogya Karnataka scheme, all PHCs are being upgraded under National Health Mission. The state has a target of upgrading 11,595 Centres as HWCs. Counselling sessions for adults, public yoga camps, ENT care, first aid during emergency and referrals to tertiary hospitals are some of the services being offered in these centres.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru;
- Karnataka Governor: Vajubhai Vala;
- Karnataka Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa.
Jharkhand ranks first in implementation of Smart City Mission schemes
Jharkhand has clinched the 1st Position among the 36 States & UTs of India based on the progress of implementation of Smart City projects, Rajasthan came second in the rankings. The rankings were released by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
At the same time, Jharkhand’s Capital Ranchi has risen to 12th position in terms of progress of the ongoing mission plans in 100 cities. On the other hand, Delhi is at number 11 in the list of States and Union Territories and Bihar at number 27 and New Delhi Municipal Corporation is at number 41 and Bihar Capital Patna at 68th position in the list of cities.
Earlier, there was a system of issuing ranking in one month, fortnight, week by the Smart City Mission. But, now these rankings are updated frequently through the online process. In this ranking, the implementation and progress of the schemes run by the Smart City Mission are the basis and the points for various tasks are determined.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Jharkhand: Hemant Soren; Governor: Shrimati Droupadi Murmu.
Jharkhand launches ‘Amrit Vahini’ App for online booking of hospital beds
Jharkhand has launched the ‘Amrit Vahini’ App for the online booking of hospital beds. Corona patients in Jharkhand can book hospital beds online through the ‘Amrit Vahini’ App launched by CM Hemant Soren.
About the ‘Amrit Vahini’ App:
‘Amrit Vahini’ App, the state government would be able to provide better facilities for the people infected with the coronavirus. Though ‘Amrit Vahini’ App or website one can get all information about the availability of hospital beds and even book one for himself or anybody else online. The bed booked by the person will be kept reserved for him for the next two hours.
Six Heritage Sites added to India’s UNESCO World Heritage sites Tentative List
The Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel recently announced that around six cultural heritage sites have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With this, the total number of sites in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tentative list has increased to 48.
The following six places have successfully entered the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Ganga Ghats of Varanasi,
- Temples of Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu,
- Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh,
- Maharashtra Military Architecture
- Hire Benkal Megalithic site,
- Bhedaghat Lametaghat of Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh
Pinarayi Vijayan takes oath as Kerala Chief Minister for 2nd time
Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn as Kerala Chief Minister for the second time in the shadow of the Covid-19 crisis in the state. The oath ceremony took place with Covid protocols in place at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath of office to 76-year-old Vijayan. It is the second stint of the Marxist veteran in the top office.
The new Left Democratic Front (LDF) government bucked the trends, as Kerala usually alternates between the Left and a Congress government, by registering a dominant win in the 6 April assembly polls. The LDF won 99 of 140 seats.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.
INS Rajput to be decommissioned on May 21
The first destroyer of the Indian Navy, INS Rajput, will be decommissioned on May 21. It was commissioned on 04 May 1980. After rendering service for 41 years, it will be decommissioned at the Naval Dockyard of Visakhapatnam. INS Rajput was built by Russia in the 61 Communards Shipyard. Its Original Russian name was ‘Nadezhny’.
INS Rajput served for both Western and Eastern Fleets and its first commanding officer was Capt Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani. It is the 1st Indian Naval Ship to be associated with an Indian Army regiment – the Rajput Regiment. It participated in many operations including Operation Aman, Operation Pawan, Operation Cactus, etc.
RBI imposes penalty on City Union Bank, 3 other lenders
The RBI has imposed monetary penalty on City Union Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank and two other lenders for contravention of certain directions issued by the central bank. A penalty of Rs 1 crore has been imposed on City Union Bank Limited for contravention of/non-compliance with certain provisions contained in the RBI (Lending to MSME Sector) Directions, 2017 and the circulars on the Educational Loan Scheme and Credit Flow to Agriculture – Agricultural Loans – Waiver of Margin/Security Requirements.
In another statement, the RBI said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by it on the Cyber Security Framework in Banks.
Other banks:
- The Reserve Bank of India also imposed a penalty of Rs 90 lakh on Nutan Nagarik Sahakari Bank, Ahmedabad for non-compliance with directions Interest Rate on Deposits, Know Your Customer (KYC) and Circular on Frauds Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism.
- The apex bank has also imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Daimler Financial Services India Private Limited, Pune for non-compliance with certain provisions of the directions issued by RBI contained in ‘Reserve Bank Commercial Paper Directions 2017’ and ‘Non-Banking Financial Company – Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016’.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
