Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 May 2023

Topic: Sports

1. Murali Sreeshankar wins gold and Jeswin Aldrin wins silver in the International Jumping Meeting.

• India’s Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar wins gold while Jeswin Aldrin bagged silver in the International Jumping Meeting at Kallithea in Greece.
• Murali Sreeshankar registered his season-best jump of 8.18 meters. He defeated national record holder Jeswin Aldrin.
• Last year, M Sreeshankar won the International Jumping Meeting with an effort of 8.31m.
• This is Murali Sreeshankar’s third competition of the year and also the third gold medal.
• Jeswin Aldrin claimed silver with a jump of 7.85 meters.
• Jalen Rucker of Australia won the bronze medal with a jump of 7.80m.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

2. Goa inked MoU with Uttarakhand government to enhance Tourism cooperation.

• The Government of Goa and the Government of Uttarakhand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed MoU for increasing the tourism landscape.
• MoU has been signed in the presence of Shri Rohan Khaunte and Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami.
• The main aim of the MoU is to promote bilateral cooperation in the travel and tourism sector. It will also support easy travel to increase the number of tourists.
• It is a step towards promoting tourism in Goa and Uttarakhand and showcasing India's rich cultural diversity to the world. It is aligned with the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative.
• Under this MoU, direct flight connectivity between Uttarakhand and Goa will be started and travel time will be reduced from 7 hours to 2.5 hours.
• The tourism department of both states will work on joint packages to promote various tourism products.
• This MoU will increase cultural exchange between both states by showcasing local cuisines, folk art, and handicrafts.
• It is the first of its kind MoU, where two states are joining hands to promote tourism under the Prime Minister’s vision of Dekho Apna Desh.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. 5.1 version of RCS- UDAN launched by Ministry of Civil Aviation to enhance connectivity to remote areas of India.

• After four successful rounds of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), the fifth round version 5.0 is in process.
• Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1 to further enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters.
• For the first time under RCS-UDAN, this round has been specially designed for helicopter routes.
• The main features include:
  • An increase in the scope of operations for operators wherein the scheme will now allow routes where one of the origin or destination locations is in a priority area. Earlier both points had to be in priority areas.
  • Airfare caps have been reduced by as much as 25% to make flying in helicopters more affordable for passengers.
  • Viability Gap Funding (VGF) caps for the operators have been increased substantially for both single and twin-engine helicopters to enhance financial viability for operating the awarded routes.
• The latest round of Indian civil aviation's "UDAN" plan has two important objectives - first, a uniform expansion of air travel with a focus on last-mile connectivity, and second, boosting interest in helicopters for tourism.
• Such efforts and more use of helicopters will help in promoting tourism, hospitality and local economies.
• So far 46 helicopter routes have been operationalized under the previous round of the scheme, benefitting many hilly and North Eastern states and this round is targeting coverage of a much larger number of routes.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: National News

4. India received 6.19 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals in 2022 compared to 1.52 million in 2021.

• The Central Government has launched several initiatives to promote the tourism sector in the country.
• It includes Dekho Apna Desh, ‘Capacity Building for Service Providers’ Scheme, Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive-PRASHAD.
• 59 tourism routes have been awarded to airlines identified under the RCS UDAN scheme by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on the recommendation of the Ministry of Tourism.
• To promote the arrival of visitors, the government has launched "Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023".
• The G20 meetings are being held at 55 venues across the country.
• The number of domestic tourists visiting pilgrimage sites in 2022 was 1 thousand 433 million, while 6.64 million foreign tourists visited India during this period.
• In 2021, the numbers were 677 million and 1.05 million, respectively.
• The Ministry of Tourism has so far approved a total of 45 projects in the country under the PRASHAD scheme, which was launched in 2014-2015.
• The scheme focuses on the development and identification of pilgrimage sites across India to enrich the religious tourism experience.

Topic: International News

5. Ireland has become the first country in the world to put health warnings on alcohol.

• Ireland will introduce mandatory health labeling of alcoholic beverages, with warnings regarding the risk of cancer, liver disease and drinking while pregnant.
• On May 22, the new regulation has been signed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, which will take effect in three years.
• However, the labels will not be mandatory until May 2026.
• It will also alert consumers to calorie and alcohol content.
• South Africa enacted a law requiring stringent alcohol warning labels in 2017, but repealed it in 2020.
• Other countries also have warnings on alcohol products, but Ireland's regulations aim to be more comprehensive.

Topic: Miscellaneous

6. Sourav Ganguly became the brand ambassador of Tripura Tourism.

• On 23 May, Chief Minister Manik Saha announced that Sourav Ganguly has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Tripura Tourism.
• Ganguly's participation in the campaigns will give impetus to the tourism sector of the state.
• Gucci has appointed Indian actress, Alia Bhatt as its first Indian global brand ambassador.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

• He addressed the session on 24 May 2023 in New Delhi.
• He emphasised the importance of hydrogen as a futuristic fuel. It can revolutionize various industries.
• He called upon the industry to prioritize Mission Hydrogen. He highlighted its potential in sectors like chemical, steel, and pharmaceuticals.
• He also highlighted the government’s commitment to developing industrial clusters and logistics parks.
• He highlighted the significance of pre-cooling plants and cold storage facilities in logistics parks.
• The CII Annual Session 2023 was held on 24-25 May 2023 with the theme of Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability, and Internationalization. 

Topic: Defence

8. Exercise ‘Tiger Shark 40’ started at BNS Nirvik in Chattogram.

• Special Forces of Bangladesh Army and Navy and US Special Forces took part in this training exercise.
• This exercise is held under the management of Commodore Swords Command.
• Chattogram Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Abdullah AL Mamun Chowdhury attended the event as the Chief Guest.
• It is a joint Bangladesh-US Naval drill Exercise. Its objective is to increase the strategic capabilities of both countries.
• Its objective is also to acquire mutual technical and procedural knowledge.
• The Special Warfare Diving and Salvage is an elite special operational unit of the Bangladesh Navy. Its base is formally called BNS Nirvik.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Environment and Ecology

9. Ministry of Environment proposes to designate Tal Chhapar Sanctuary as Eco-Sensitive Zone.

• Environment Ministry has prepared a draft to designate the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary as an Eco-Sensitive Zone.
• This step has been taken to preserve the rich biodiversity of Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Tal Chhapar is situated in the Churu district, Rajasthan. It is spread over 7.1977 square kilometres.
• It was established as a “Reserved area” in 1962. It is home to more than 4,500 Blackbucks, Chinkara, and more than 250 species of birds.
• The main aim to designate Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is to prohibit industrial activities within the zone. It will ensure the long-term viability and the protection of its delicate ecosystem.
• The state government will develop a comprehensive Zonal Master Plan within two years. It will be created in association with the local community.
• The Zonal Master Plan will regulate development activities with the Eco-Sensitive Zone.
• The Zonal Master Plan has been developed by the State Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Forests.
• A comprehensive heritage conservation plan will be integrated with the Zonal Master Plan to ensure the preservation of invaluable treasures.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel win the 2023 International Booker Prize for the novel ‘Time Shelter’.

• ‘Time Shelter’ became the first Bulgarian novel to win the International Booker Prize.
• It is written by Georgi Gospodinov and has been translated by Angela Rodel.
• 'Time Shelter' is the story of a clinic where the past is recreated in a way and each floor is shown as a different decade.
• Its purpose is to help people who are suffering from dementia and have forgotten old things.
• This Novel deals with the question that what happens to us when our memories disappear.
• Gospodinov said that he is influenced by writers such as Thomas Mann and Marcel Proust.
• In 2022, the Italian translation of Time Shelter won the Premio Strega Europeo prize.
• Last year, Geetanjali Shree won the International Booker Prize for the novel “Tomb of Sand”.
• International Booker Prize:
  • It was formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize.
  • The prize is awarded for a book translated into English.
  • Prize money is shared between the author and translator.

Topic: Sports

11. 3^rd Khelo India University Games began in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar district.

• On May 23, Kabaddi kicked off on the first competitive day of the Khelo India University Games 2022 Uttar Pradesh (KIUG22UP) at SVSP Sports Complex, Gautam Buddha Nagar.
• On 25th May 2023, the official opening ceremony of the Khelo India University Games 2022 Uttar Pradesh (KIUG22UP) will be organized in Lucknow.
• In this edition, KIUG22UP will see participation of over 4000 athletes representing over 200 universities across 21 sports disciplines.
• Around 1200 players from different universities are participating in basketball, weight lifting, boxing and kabaddi.
• The Khelo India University Games will be organized till June 3 and its closing ceremony will be held in Varanasi.
• These games will be organized at four places, which include Gautam Buddha Nagar, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Varanasi.
• In 2020, the first edition of the Khelo India University Games was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

12. Madhya Pradesh govt announces regularization of 6,000 illegal colonies.

• On May 23, the state government announced regularisation of all unauthorised colonies developed till December 31, 2022, in a major decision ahead of the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.
• Residents of over 6,000 illegal colonies in the state will be benefited.
• Necessary funds would be provided for the development of these colonies and as a token, 500 construction permission certificates were also given to the residents of some colonies.
• Giving another major relief to the residents of these illegal colonies, CM said that no development fee would be charged from the residents of these illegal colonies.
• For the development of such colonies, the amount of MLA and MP fund can be released.
• The chief minister also announced that meals at Rs 5 per person should be provided to all under the Deendayal Rasoi Yojana.
• The aim of the state government is to not let anyone live without food in the state.

Topic: National News

13. Sengol will be installed by PM Modi in the new Parliament building at the inauguration of the new Parliament House.

• On 28 May 2023, PM Modi will receive Sengol and install it in the new Parliament House.
• This Sengol was accepted by the first Prime Minister of India, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of 14th August, 1947.
• On the night of 14 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru received the 'Sengol' from the Adheenams (Priests) of the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam (Mutt) in Tamil Nadu.
• The same Sengol will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha. It will be a symbol of the Amrit Kaal.
• The Sengol is derived from the Tamil word “Semmai”, meaning “Righteousness”.
• The Nandi, with its unyielding gaze as the beholder of “Nyaya”, is hand-carved at its top.
• The recipient of the Sengol has the “order” (“Aanai” in Tamil) to rule justly and fairly.
• First Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru received Sengol from Lord Mountbatten to symbolically represent the transfer of power from the British. The Sengol was later kept in a museum in Allahabad.
• On the question of the ceremony to be followed to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to the Indians, Nehru consulted C. Rajagopalachari.
• C. Rajagopalachari (the last Viceroy of India) suggested the Chola model in which a high ruler sanctified and blessed the transfer of power from one king to another.
• The handover of ‘sengol’ or sceptre from one king to his successor was the symbol used.
• Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, a famous jeweller in the Madras Presidency, crafted a golden scepter.
• The makers of the sengol are Vummidi Ethirajulu (96) and Vummidi Sudhakar (88). They are living in Chennai.
• Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam is a five-hundred-year-old Saivaite monastery.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Assam

14. Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya held talks to resolve disputes in six other sectors along the border.

• The meeting between Chief Ministers was held in Guwahati on May 24, 2023.
• The regional committees of Assam and Meghalaya would visit the six disputed sectors and submit their reports by July-end.
• After this, a Chief Minister-level review meeting will be held.
• After the meeting, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, in June the Chief Ministers of both the States will visit Karbi Anglong (Assam).
• Unrest is going on in Karbi Anglong (Assam). Chief Ministers will go there as a confidence-building measure in the last part of June.
• On 29 March 2022, Assam and Meghalaya signed an agreement to resolve disputes in six other sectors.
• Langpih, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Desh Doomreah, Block 1 & Block II, and Psiar-Khanduli are the six sectors where disputes remain.