- National:
- The Army Dental Centre of Research & Referral (ADC R&R) celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 1, 2024. A Special Postal Cover was released by Lieutenant General MK Katiyar to mark the occasion. The ADC R&R is known for its post-graduate training in five specialties of dentistry and for performing various specialist procedures.
- India’s first Constitution Park, Samvidhan Udyan, was inaugurated in Pune on April 27, 2024. The park, developed by the Indian Army and Punit Balan Group, is themed on the artwork used in the original copy of the Indian Constitution and aims to promote civic awareness and patriotism.
- The 12th India-Netherlands Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held on 2nd May 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations in priority sectors like Water, Agriculture & Health (WAH agenda), Science & Technology, and High-tech & Innovation. They also agreed to focus on new technologies like semiconductors and green hydrogen.
- The Supreme Court of India has mandated a reservation of at least 33% of the posts in the executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association for women. This includes a minimum of 3 out of 9 seats in the committee and 2 out of 6 senior positions. The court has also reserved at least one office-bearer post for women on a rotation basis.
- Banking:
- In the fiscal year 2023-24, Maharashtra emerged as the top state in India for attracting private equity investments, despite an overall decline in investments compared to the previous year. Mumbai, being the financial capital, played a significant role in this achievement by receiving an investment of USD 7.3 billion. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu also showed a positive trend by securing the fifth spot with total investments of USD 1.5 billion.
- ICICI Bank, one of India’s leading private lenders, has recently achieved a market capitalisation of over Rs 8.14 trillion. The bank’s net profit saw a year-on-year increase of over 17%, and a dividend of Rs 10 per share was announced. Analysts have a positive outlook on ICICI Bank, with none recommending a “sell” rating.
- The IIFCL Asset Management Company (AMC) and its four officials, namely Emandi Sankara Rao, Prasanna Prakash Panda, Anil Kumar Taneja, and Sumiran Bansal, have settled a case with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) by paying ₹1.02 crore. The case was related to alleged violations of mutual funds norms concerning investments made by IIFCL AMC in several firms.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has made it mandatory for Portfolio Management Services (PMS) distributors to register with the Association of Portfolio Managers in India (APMI). This will be effective from January 1, 2025. The move aims to promote collective oversight of PMS distributors and ease of doing business initiatives for portfolio managers.
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given its approval for the acquisition of a 15.43% stake in Sanyo Special Steel Manufacturing India Private Limited (SSMI) by Sanyo Special Steel Co. Ltd. from Mitsui & Co. Ltd.. Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd. is a Japan-based company that manufactures and sells steel products globally.
- HDFC Life launched a campaign called ‘No Jhanjhat Life Insurance Fatafat’ on May 3, 2024. The campaign aims to provide a swift and seamless life insurance purchasing experience, eliminating cumbersome paperwork and lengthy waiting periods. It encourages individuals to secure themselves and their families financially through HDFC Life’s digital platform.
- Economy:
- In FY24, India’s power generation capacity saw growth across all sectors. Fossil fuel-based power capacity increased by 2.44% to 243.22 GW. Renewable energy capacity rose by 10.79% to 190.57 GW. Nuclear power capacity increased by 20.64% to 8.18 GW. Overall, India’s total power generation capacity rose by 6.22% to 441.97 GW.
- Science & Technology:
- China launched the Chang’e-6 mission on May 3, 2024. This is the world’s first mission aiming to bring back samples from the far side of the Moon. The mission was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre on Hainan Island, southern China. The mission duration is expected to be 53 days, and it aims to collect about two kilograms of soil and rocks.
- Committees:
- The agreement between India and Nigeria to enhance cooperation in energy, UPI, and local currency settlement was discussed during the second session of the India-Nigeria Joint Trade Committee held in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Friday, May 3, 2024. From India, the delegation was led by Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, and included officials from RBI, EXIM Bank of India, and NPCI. The India-Nigeria Joint Trade Committee (JTC) aims to enhance bilateral trade and commercial relations between the two countries.
- Reports:
- The CEEW Centre for Energy Finance (CEEW-CEF) Market Handbook released a report stating that renewable energy sources contributed to 71% of the 26 GW of power generation capacity added in India during FY 2023-24. The total installed energy capacity of India now stands at 442 GW, with renewables making up 33% of it. For the first time, the share of coal and lignite fell below 50%.
- Important Days:
- Coal Miners Day is observed annually on May 4 to honor the hard work and dedication of coal miners. It recognizes their vital role in fueling the nation’s progress. The day also promotes awareness about the health, safety, and rights of coal miners. Various events are organized to honor the miners, including speeches, award ceremonies, and cultural programs.
- International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is observed annually on May 4. It’s a day dedicated to honouring the bravery and sacrifices of firefighters worldwide. The day is marked by various activities such as sounding fire sirens for 30 seconds followed by a minute’s silence in memory of firefighters who have been lost in the line of duty.
- Appointments:
- Shashi Bhushan Singh, an Indian Railway Traffic Service officer, was appointed as the Secretary of the National Jute Board in Kolkata on May 4th, 2024. His appointment is for a five-year term or until further orders. He will assume his new role immediately, unless he is engaged in election-related duties.
- Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, was appointed as the President of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) on May 1, 2024. His appointment was approved by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Atanu Chakraborty as the Part-time Chairman and Independent Director of HDFC Bank. His re-appointment is effective for a period of three years, from May 5, 2024, to May 4, 2027. Mr. Chakraborty has been serving in this role since May 2021.
- Awards & Honours:
- Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, an Assam-based conservationist, won the Whitley Gold Award 2024 on May 1, 2024. She was recognized for her work in conserving the Greater Adjutant Stork and empowering women in her community.
Questions:
Q.1 Who won the Whitley Gold Award 2024?a. Dr. Purnima Devi Barman
b. Dr. Maneka Gandhi
c. Dr. Vandana Shiva
d. Dr. Jane Goodall
Q.2 Who has been re-appointed as the Part-time Chairman and Independent Director of HDFC Bank?
a. Raghuram Rajan
b. Urjit Patel
c. Shaktikanta Das
d. Atanu Chakraborty
