- National:
- The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced a new initiative titled ‘NEP SAARTHI’ (Student Ambassador for Academic Reforms in Transforming Higher Education in India) to involve students in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
- The first Arab woman astronaut launched into space aboard a personal rocket on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Ali al-Qarni, a fighter pilot from Saudi Arabia, traveled on Sunday’s mission with Rayyanah Barnawi, a Saudi breast cancer researcher. They are the first Saudi astronauts to travel to space in many years
- The Rajasthan government has approved a proposal for developing Geographic Information System (GIS) based 3D models of Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota and Ajmer. According to an official statement, the state government will develop GIS-based 3D models of the four cities for better planning and management of urban development
- The Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur recently got two new young sloth bears from Karnataka under an animal exchange program
- The Navy’s Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuratna underwent a major upgrade in Russia and reached Mumbai after sailing for 97 days and almost 10,000 miles with two port calls in between1. The submarine underwent a Medium Refit Life Certification (MRLC) process in Russia which extended its life
- From June 1, cough syrup exporters will be required to conduct testing of their products at designated government laboratories before getting permission for outbound shipments. This directive has been issued in response to quality concerns raised globally surrounding cough syrups exported by Indian companies
- The Ministry of Education organized a workshop in New Delhi on Monday with the aim of unifying a network of 60 school examination Boards of various States and Union Territories under one umbrella. The workshop will study school assessments, examination practices and equivalence of Boards across the country
- The Union Health Ministry has issued a public notice calling for stricter implementation of the Act that prohibits the manufacture, sale and advertisements of electronic cigarettes1. This decision was necessitated due to the easy availability of e-cigarettes online and at tobacco shops
- The Union Higher Education Ministry has discontinued the ‘Shiksha Puraskar’ and ‘Hinditar Bhashi Hindi Lekhak Puraskar’ awards upon implementation of a Home Ministry directive
- A consortium led by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has received an advance purchase order worth Rs 15,000 crore from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for the deployment of a 4G network across India
- The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has announced that the Centre will provide 30 percent financial support for promotion of Green Shipping
- The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is all set to launch an academy by next month. The ONDC Academy aims to develop a more robust ecosystem of certified sellers, buyers, and logistics network partners in the country
- World:
- The European Union has slapped Meta with a record USD 1.3 billion privacy fine and ordered it to stop transferring users’ personal information to the United States by October
- Rayyanah Barnawi, the first female Arab astronaut, has successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Space’s second private mission. She is a research scientist and has floated her way into the record books as the first Arab woman to go on a space mission
- Brazil has declared a six-month animal health emergency after several cases of avian flu were found in wild birds. The emergency declaration makes it easier for the government to now bring in measures to stop the highly infectious H5N1 virus from spreading
- Sports:
- Chennai will host the Squash World Cup from June 13 to 171. The tournament will be held at the Express Avenue mall and the Indian Squash & Triathlon Academy (ISTA)2. Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa will lead the Indian challenge.
- Virat Kohli, the star batter of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has now scored 600 runs or more in three Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons each. In 14 matches of IPL 2023, he has scored 639 runs at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate above 139.
- Daniil Medvedev won his first clay court title at the Italian Open by beating Holger Rune in straight sets. Elena Rybakina won the Italian Open when her opponent Anhelina Kalinina retired early in the second set due to a left thigh injury
- Important Days:
- The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated on May 22nd every year. The theme for 2023 is “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity”.
- International Tea Day is celebrated on May 21st every year. The day was originally celebrated on December 15th, but was changed to May 21st when the United Nations adopted the day. The theme for International Tea Day 2023 is “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”
- The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development will be observed on May 21st, 2023. It is a day to celebrate the richness of the world’s cultures and promote intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development
- National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 in India every year. The day is observed to promote peace, humanity, unity, and harmony among the people and to raise awareness about terrorism’s anti-social act.The theme of National Anti-Terrorism Day 2023 is "Promoting Peace and Unity"
- Books:
- Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria released a book titled ‘Partitioned Freedom’ written by Ram Madhav at an event in Guwahati
- Awards:
- Indian athlete Shaili Singh clinched a bronze medal at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix 2023 athletics meet in the women’s long jump event in Yokohama, Japan. She attempted a jump of 6.65 meters which provided her third place on the podium at the Yokohama meet
- Obituary:
- Martin Amis, the influential British novelist, passed away on May 19, 2023 at the age of 73 at his home in Florida due to oesophageal cancer. He was known for his era-defining novels including Money and London Fields
- Banking:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently pushed for stronger governance at public sector banks. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das met with the board of directors of all public sector banks in New Delhi to discuss issues related to leadership and governance, and drive growth and sustainability
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the certificate of registration of seven non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and accepted the surrender permits of 14 NBFCs. These moves aim to regulate and maintain the stability of the non-banking financial institution (NBFI) sector
- Bajaj Allianz Life has launched India’s first Small Cap fund in the ULIP segment. The fund will offer customers an opportunity to achieve capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of small-cap stocks. Bajaj Allianz Life Small Cap Fund will track Nifty Small Cap 100 index
Questions:
Q.1 Who is the first female Arab astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS)?a. Sultan Al Neyadi
b. Rayyanah Barnawi
c. Ali Alqarni
d. Peggy Whitson
Q.2 What is the theme of National Anti-Terrorism Day 2023?
a. Standing Strong Against Violence
b. Fighting Against Terrorism
c. Spreading Love and Harmony
d. Promoting Peace and Unity
