Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 and 2 May 2022

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. BRO’s Atal Tunnel awarded with IBC Best Infrastructure Project award.

• The Atal Tunnel constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) got the Indian Building Congress (IBC) ‘Best Infrastructure Project’ award in New Delhi.
• Around 30 projects have been nominated for this prestigious award. Atal Tunnel has been named as the Best Projects for Excellence in the Built Environment in 2021.
• Lt General Rajeev Chaudhry received the prize on the behalf of Border Roads Organisation during the IBC’s 25th annual Convention.
• Atal Tunnel:
  • It is 9.02 km long that connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley.
  • It is built in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas at the height of 10,000 feet from the mean sea level.
  • It reduces the road distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km.
  • The construction of this tunnel started on 3 June 2000 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Books and Author

2. Rasheed Kidwai penned a new book "Leaders, Politicians, Citizens".

• In this book, Rasheed Kidwai has compiled stories of 50 personalities who influenced India's politics.
• It has been published by Hachette India.
• In this book, he has written about leading political figures such as Sheikh Abdullah, Jyoti Basu, Sheila Dikshit, Rajiv Gandhi, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, etc.
• "The House of Scindias: A Saga of Power, Politics and Intrigue, "Ballot - Ten Episodes That Have Shaped India's Democracy" and "24, Akbar Road" were other famous books written by him.

Topic: National News

3. State-level Judicial Infrastructure Development Authority will be formed.

• Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced the formation of a Judicial Infrastructure Development Authority at the state level to boost the country's judicial infrastructure.
• He stated that the resolution was passed during the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers of States and Chief Justices of High Courts in New Delhi.
• Some Chief Ministers, however, could not agree on this and insisted on forming a committee at the state level, because the state government is responsible for both the implementation and execution of the works.
• Later, the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices decided that the body would be formed at the state level, with the CMs and Chief Justices or their nominees involved.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Important Days

4. International Labour Day 2022: 1 May

• International Workers' Day, also known as International Labour Day, is observed on May 1 around the world.
• The International Labor Organization is an agency of the United Nations that works towards setting international labour standards.
• In 1889, May 01 was designated as a day for workers in remembrance of the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886.
• In India, the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan celebrated the first Labour Day in 1923 in Chennai (formerly Madras).

Topic: National Appointment

5. Vinay Mohan Kwatra is appointed as the new Foreign Secretary.

• He succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
• Mr. Kwatra, an IFS official from the 1988 batch, previously served as India's Ambassador to Nepal.
• Mr. Kwatra is known for his extensive expertise in dealing with India's neighborhood, as well as the US, China, and Europe.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: State news / Assam

6. Ayush Ministry organized a Yoga Utsav to commemorate the 50th day of the countdown to the International Day of Yoga in Assam.

• Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for AYUSH, emphasised the need for a strong nation as India is celebrating its 75th anniversary of independence.
• The Ministry of AYUSH organised a large yoga practice at the historic Shiva Dol premises in the Sivsagar district.
• A total of 500 people practised in the Shiv Dol premises and the ancient monument’s premises of Rangghar, Talatal Ghar, Joy Dol, Rudrasagar Shiv Dol, Thora Dol and Kareng Ghar among others.
• The objective of the event is to give wide publicity to the various dimensions of Yoga and to promote the countdown campaign to IDY 2022 for health and wellness.
• Ministry of AYUSH is the nodal ministry for the celebration of the International Day of Yoga (IDY).

Topic: International News

7. PM Modi will visit Germany, Denmark and France from 2^nd to 4^th May.

• During his visit to Berlin in Germany on 2nd May, PM Modi will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.      
• PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz will co-chair 6th edition of India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).
• This will be PM Modi’s first IGC with Chancellor Scholz. On 3rd May, PM Modi will go to Copenhagen in Denmark. 
• This will be PM Modi’s first visit to Denmark. He will interact with Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. PM Modi will also attend an India-Denmark Business Forum.
• On 4th May, PM Modi will take part in 2nd India-Nordic Summit. Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway will also take part in it.
• 1st India-Nordic Summit was held in 2018 in Stockholm. At the end of his visit, PM Modi will briefly stop in Paris and meet France President Emmanuel Macron.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

8. Gujarat and Maharashtra celebrated their 62nd foundation days on 01 May 2022.

• Gujarat celebrated its 62nd foundation day on 01 May 2022 as “Gujarat Gaurav Divas”.
• The main function was held in Patan district of North Gujarat.
• On the occasion, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel dedicated to the people Regional Science Center in Patan.
• Gujarat was formed after the bifurcation of erstwhile Bombay state in 1960.
• Maharashtra celebrated its 62nd foundation day as ‘Maharashtra Din’.
• Maharashtra was formed in 1960 after the Bombay Reorganization Act was enacted by Parliament.
• Sanyukt Maharastra Andolan was started for demanding a separate state for Marathi-speaking people.
• 105 Hutatme sacrificed for separate state known as Maharashtra. Maharashtra CM paid tribute to these Hutatme at Hutatma Smarak in Mumbai.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. Oil India Limited and Digboi Forest Division signed an MoU for Carbon sequestration and restoration of degraded forest land.

• The project for Carbon sequestration and restoration of degraded forest land will be implemented in Dihing Reserved Forest (west block) under Digboi Forest Division.
• This initiative has been started under OIL’s CSR project Vasundhara.
• The MoU has been signed by Shri Pallab Barman, CGM-FHQ Affairs from OIL and Shri T C Ranjthram, DFO from Digboi Forest Division.
• Under this project, reforestation and afforestation of 100 hectares of the degraded forest area have been planned. Around 2,50,000  saplings will be planted by March 2025.
• Apart from the plantation, establishing a Bambusetum and other activities will also be undertaken to reduce dependency on the forest.
• India’s first oil well was dug in 1866 in Digboi. It is known as the Oil City of Assam.
• Oil India Limited (OIL):
  • It is a government-owned enterprise.
  • It is the second-largest national oil and gas company in India.
  • It was founded on 18th February 1959.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

10. World Laughter Day 2022: 1 May

• World Laughter Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of May. In 2022, it was celebrated on 1 May.
• World Laughter Day was first celebrated on 10 May 1998 in Mumbai.
• World Laughter Day was started by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement, in 1998.
• World Laughter Day is celebrated to raise awareness about laughter and its many healing benefits.
• Laughter decreases the cortisol level in the brain, which affects positively on the body.

Topic: Sports

11. PV Sindhu wins Bronze in Asia Badminton Championships.

• P.V. Sindhu won the bronze medal for the second time in the Asia Badminton Championships.
• She lost to defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the semifinal.
• In the semi-final match, P.V. Sindhu clinched the opening game 21-13 but after that, she lost the next two sets by 21-19, 21-16
• P.V. Sindhu had defeated Big Jiao of China 21-9,13-21 and 21-19 in the quarterfinal.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. Max Verstappen won the Sportsman of the Year award at the 2022 Laureus World Sports Award.

• Sportswoman of the Year award went to Jamaican athlete Elaine Thompson-Herah.
• The winners of the 2022 Laureus World Sports Award were announced during a virtual event.
• Neeraj Chopra was also nominated at Laureus World Sports Award under the Breakthrough of the year category.
• The 2022 Laureus World Sports Award was hosted by Lindsey Vonn.
• Laureus World Sports Award is given every year in the six categories- Sportsman, Sportswoman, Team, Breakthrough, Comeback and Action.
• The 2022 Laureus World Sports winners are:

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

13. Index of Eight Core Industries registered a growth of 10.4 per cent during 2021-22 fiscal.

• The index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) has grown 10.4% more as compared to the previous Financial Year.
• According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry data, the combined Index of Eight Core Industries has grown by 4.3 per cent in March 2022.
• The Commerce and Industry Ministry changed the growth rate of core industries in December 2021 from 3.8% to 4.1%.
• Only crude oil and coal recorded contraction at 3.4% and 0.1% respectively. The weightage of eight core industries is 40.27% in IIP.
• Natural gas (7.6%), refinery products (6.2%), fertilisers (15.3%), steel (3.7%), cement (8.8%) and electricity (4.9%) Industries have shown growth.
• Index of Industrial Production (IIP):
  • It measures the change in industrial output over a period of time.
  • In IIP, Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors carry weightage of 75.5%, 14.2% and 10.3% respectively.
  • It is compiled and published by Central Statistical Organization (CSO).

Topic: Awards and Prizes

14. Snow leopard conservationist Charudutt Mishra wins Whitley Gold Award.

• Charudutt Mishra was awarded Whitely Gold Award for his conservation work in 12 snow leopard countries.
• This is the second time Charudutt Mishra has won Whitley Gold Award. He had won the award previously in 2005.
• Charudutt Mishra published a paper on eight approaches to community-based conservation in 2017.
• He involved local communities in snow leopard protection in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, which reduced the killing of Snow leopards.
• Charudutt Mishra is also the co-founder of the Bengaluru-based Nature Conservation Foundation. He has also started India’s first community scheme to save snow leopards.
• Whitley Gold Award:
  • It is given every year for outstanding contributions to conservation.
  • It is presented by Patron HRH.
  • It helps winners in getting more philanthropic support from new sources.