Daily Current Affairs May 17 2022 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Light- 16th May

• The International Day of Light is celebrated annually on May 16.
• It marks the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman.
• The laser is a prime illustration of how a scientific breakthrough may help society in areas such as communications, healthcare, and many others.
• The International Day of Light is a global project that serves as an annual focal point for the continued enjoyment of light and its significance in science, culture, art, education, sustainable development, and disciplines as diverse as medical, communications, and energy.
• The broad topic of light will enable many diverse sectors of society across the world to engage in events that highlight how science, technology, art, and culture can assist UNESCO accomplish its aims of education, equality, and peace.

About UNESCO:

• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Director-General; Audrey Azoulay
• Founded: 16 November 1945

International Day of Families – 15th May

• International Family Day or International Day of Families is observed every year on May 15.
• In 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the day to provide importance to families and the issues faced by them and to increase knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting families.
• The theme of 2022 is “Families and Urbanisation” which aims to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable, family-friendly urban policies.
• According to the UN, Urbanisation is “one of the most important megatrends shaping our world and the life and wellbeing of families worldwide”.

History:

• In the 1980s, the United Nations focused its attention on families and issues related to them, based on recommendations of the Economic and Social Council.
• The Commission for Social Development in its resolution on the role of the family requested the Secretary-General to enhance awareness among decision-makers and the public of the problems and needs of the family, as well as of effective ways of meeting those needs.
• In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution that May 15 of every year should be observed as the International Day of Families.

About UN:

• Founded: 24 October 1945
• Headquarters: New York, United States
• Secretary general: António Guterres

International Day of Living Together in Peace- 16 May

• The International Day of Living Together in Peace is celebrated every year on May 16.
• The day is meant to signify unity in differences and diversity.
• The day is celebrated on the 16th of May throughout the world and with its annual observance, it aims to urge people to live together in a united and peaceful way.
• Individuals can attain this by listening to each other and respecting one another despite their differences.

History:

• The day first came into being after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to declare 16 May as the International Day of Living Together in Peace on 8 December 2017.
• The first International Day of Living Together in Peace was observed in 2018.
• Ever since the end of World War II, the United Nations has been on a mission to work towards world peace.
• The year 2000 was recognised as ‘The International Year for a Culture of Peace” and from 2001 to 2010, the UN declared it the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World.”
• Both of these events led to the adoption of a resolution for the formation of the International Day of Living Together in Peace.

About UNGA

• The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN.
• Currently, in its 76th session, its powers, composition, functions, and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.
• President: Abdulla Shahid
• Headquarters: New York, United States

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister’s participation in the Second Global COVID Virtual Summit:

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had participated in the Second Global COVID Virtual Summit at the invitation of the President of the U.S.A., Joseph R. Biden Jr.
• The Summit aims to inspire new measures to solve the COVID pandemic’s ongoing difficulties and to strengthen the global health security infrastructure.
• Prime Minister will deliver his remarks in the Opening Session of the Summit on the theme ‘Preventing Pandemic Fatigue and Prioritizing Preparedness’.
• The session will be live-streamed from 1830 to 1945 hrs
• Prime Minister had also participated in the first Global COVID virtual Summit hosted by President Biden on 22 September 2021.

Additional Information:

• The United States and other hosts invited Taiwan to attend the meeting, but China and Russia declined.
• The WHO forecasts that 4.7 million people will die in India as a result of Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, more than ten times what the government estimates, making India’s death toll the highest in the world.
• More than 30 countries attended the conference, which was co-hosted by the United States, Belize, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal.
• The 2nd global climate conference, according to a press release from the US government, resulted in more than $3 billion in additional financial pledges from participants, multilateral organisations, and philanthropic organisations, on top of promises made in 2021 and 2022.

About WHO:

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded: 7 April 1948
• Director General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

About the USA:

• Capital: Washington, D.C.
• President: Joe Biden
• Currency: United States Dollar

COP15 Session on combating desertification: Bhupender Yadav led the Indian delegation:

• The Indian delegation landed in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, for the UN Convention on Combating Desertification’s 15th Conference of Parties, led by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav (UNCCD COP15).
• The Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification held its fourteenth session in New Delhi, and India is the organization’s current president.

About COP15 Session:

• Despite the covid outbreak, India made major contributions to bringing nations together to achieve the global aim of preventing and reversing land degradation during its presidency.
• During India’s presidency, G-20 leaders, recognising the importance of countering land degradation and developing new carbon sinks, set an aspirational goal of planting 1 trillion trees collectively by 2030, urging other countries to join forces with the G20 to achieve this global goal.
• The fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which will take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, will bring together leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society, and other key stakeholders from around the world to drive progress in future sustainable land management and to explore links between land and other key sustainability issues.
• These problems will be considered at the high-level phase and will include a Heads of States Summit, high-level roundtables and interactive dialogue sessions, as well as a variety of additional special and side activities. ​
• Drought, land restoration, and associated enablers including land rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment are among the conference’s major priorities.
• COP15 is expected to galvanise sustainable solutions for land restoration and drought resilience through resolutions made by the UNCCD’s 197 Parties, with a significant focus on future-proofing land usage.

About UNCCD:

• The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994 to protect and restore our land and ensure a safer, just, and more sustainable future.
• The UNCCD is the only legally binding framework set up to address desertification and the effects of drought.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & ECONOMY

Exim Bank’s Government of India supported additional Line of Credit (LoC) of

USD 190 million to the SBM (Mauritius) Infrastructure Development Company Ltd

• Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated January 06, 2022 with the SBM (Mauritius) Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (SBMIDCL), for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 190 million.

Purpose of the agreement :

• To finance its participation through Redeemable Preference Shares in public sector entities for implementing the ongoing Metro Express Project and other infrastructure projects in Mauritius.
• The Credit facility is an additional tranche to the existing Credit of USD 500 million which has been extended to SBMIDCL on the terms and conditions contained in the Dollar Credit Line Agreement dated May 27, 2017.
• Under the arrangement, financing of export of eligible goods and services from India, as defined under the agreement, would be allowed subject to their being eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank under this agreement.
• Out of the total credit by Exim Bank under the agreement, goods and services of the value of at least 75 percent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India.
• The remaining 25 percent of goods and services may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India.
• However, Indian content requirement for the Metro Express Project shall be 30% of the contract price.
• Under the LoC, the terminal utilization period is 60 months from the scheduled completion date of the project.
• As per instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time, Shipments under the LoC shall be declared in Export Declaration Form
• No agency commission is payable for export under the above LoC.
• The directions contained in this circular have been issued under section 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/ approvals, if any, required under any other law.

About Exim Bank :

• Founded: 1982
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Managing Director : Harsha Bangari
• Exim Bank was established under the Export-Import Bank of India Act, 1981

RBI restricts withdrawals from Shankarrao Pujari Nutan Nagari Sahakari Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed several restrictions on Shankarrao Pujari Nutan Nagari Sahakari Bank Limited, Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur, including on withdrawals, in view of the lender’s worsening financial position.
• The restrictions will remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on May 13, 2022 and are subject to review.
• However, 84 per cent of the depositors are fully covered by the DICGC insurance scheme.
• Under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) insurance scheme, deposits of up to Rs 5 lakh are insured.
• Considering the bank’s present liquidity position, no amount from the total balance across all savings bank or current accounts or any other account of a depositor, may be allowed to be withdrawn, but are allowed to set off loans against deposits subject to the conditions.

About RBI :

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors : Mahesh Kumar Jain,M. Rajeshwar Rao,Michael Patra and T. Rabi Shankar

Union Bank launches online platform ‘Trade nxt’ for export-import transactions

• Union Bank of India (UBI) has launched a digital solution, ‘Trade nxt’ to ease all cross-border export-import transactions for corporates and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

About Trade nxt’ :

• ‘Trade nxt’ eliminates the need for companies to visit a bank branch to initiate a trade transaction and ensures better governance with enhanced security and controls.
• The online platform provides seamless entry and processing of letters of credit (LC), bank guarantees, export and import bills, disbursement of export credit, outward & inward remittances, dealer financing, & etc.
• It will also enable regulatory online auto reporting through import Data Processing & Monitoring System (IDPMS), Export Data Processing & Monitoring System (EDPMS) and other statutory reporting pertaining to ODI/ FDI/ LRS transactions.

Key features :

• Digital transactions round the clock and from anywhere, with minimal dependency on the branch
• Auto-generated regulatory declarations
• Reminders for future bills and payments due dates
• Dedicated relationship manager desk
• Digitized trade finance transactions Facility of uploading scanned copies of documents is available.

About Union Bank of India :

• Founded : 11 November 1919
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Rajkiran Rai G

SpiceJet and Axis Bank launch co-branded credit card

• The country’s airline SpiceJet & India’s third largest private sector bank, Axis Bank have partnered to launch the most rewarding co-branded credit card, powered by Visa that will offer a host of privileges and benefits to customers.
• The card is available in two variants

1.   SpiceJet Axis Bank Voyage

2.   Voyage Black.

Aim :

• To facilitate a superlative travel experience for flyers through SpiceClub, the first frequent flier program by a low cost carrier in India.
• The cards were officially launched at the Indira Gandhi International airport in the presence of Ajay Singh, Chairman and MD, SpiceJet, and Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO, Axis Bank, where they unveiled a special SpiceJet-Axis Bank credit card livery on a SpiceJet Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
• The products are designed to enable customers to use the rewards earned on their daily spends for booking flights and add-ons, thus encouraging both travel and digital payments embedded with benefits of SpiceJet’s frequent flyer program.
• Customers can earn benefits up to 7% on the Voyage Black credit card which is a Top-tier offering in the travel credit card segment.
• The redemption of earned points does not have any limitations on blackout dates, festival demand, and are on a first-come basis.
• Cardholders would get exclusive SpiceClub membership with direct entry in either Silver or Gold tiers, and special benefits like complimentary or discounted travel add-ons, priority check-in, SpiceMax upgrade, preferred seat selection, complimentary meal etc.

Features of Voyage and Voyage Black credit cards :

Benefits	SpiceJet Axis Bank Voyage Credit Card	SpiceJet Axis Bank Voyage Black Credit Card
Joining Fee & Annual Fee	₹750	₹2000
Joining Benefit	Complimentary SpiceClub Silver Tier membership	Complimentary SpiceClub Gold Tier membership
Features	1. Earn 18 SpiceClub Points(SC) per ₹ 200 spent on SpiceJet Platform* (Silver Tier membership benefits) – up to 4.5% customer benefit 2. Earn 6 SC Points per ₹ 200 spent on Online Bill Payments, Online food and Online Entertainment accelerated categories – up to 3% customer benefit 3. Earn 3 SC Points per ₹ 200 spent on any other qualifying spends excluding any fuel, wallet top up, cash withdrawal and EMI transactions – up to 1.5% customer benefit	1. Earn 28 SpiceClub Points(SC) per ₹ 200 spent on SpiceJet Platform* (Gold tier membership benefits) – up to 7% customer benefit 2. Earn 12 SC Points per ₹ 200 spent on Online Bill Payments, Online food and Online Entertainment accelerated categories – up to 6% customer benefit 3. Earn 6 SC Points per ₹ 200 spent on any other qualifying spends excluding any fuel, wallet top upcash withdrawal and EMI transactions – up to 3% customer benefit
Renewal Benefit	Upon successful payment of annual fee of the card, 1000 SC Points to be credited for cardholder	Upon successful repayment of annual fee of the card, 2000 SC Points to be credited for cardholder
Other benefits	(a) Complimentary access to select airport lounges (4 visits a year) (b) Fuel surcharge waiver @1% (upto ₹ 400/-)	Complimentary access to select airport lounges (8 visits a year) (b) Fuel surcharge waiver @1% (upto ₹ 400/-)

About SpiceJet :

• Founded : 2004 (Commenced Operations 23 May 2005)
• Headquarters : Gurgaon, Haryana, India
• MD : Ajay Singh
• SpiceJet is an Indian low-cost airline & is the second largest airline in the country by number of domestic passengers carried

About Axis Bank :

• Founded: 1993
• MD & CEO : Amitabh Chaudhry
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Morgan Stanley lowers India’s FY23 growth forecast to 7.6%

• Global brokerage firm Morgan Stanley has lowered India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the current financial year to 7.6 percent from 7.9 percent for F2023.
• It stated that slowdown in global growth, higher commodity prices and risk aversion in global capital markets expose Asia’s third-largest economy to downside risks.
• The baseline forecast for India is 7.6 per cent growth for FY23, its bearish and bullish growth projections are 6.7 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively.
• However, sees the Indian economy expanding at above pre-pandemic growth rates in FY23 and FY24.

Key Highlights :

• Earlier, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised downwards its growth projection for FY23 to 7.2 percent from 7.8 percent.
• The World Bank slashed its FY23 growth forecast for India to 8 percent from 8.7 percent estimated in January.
• For FY24, the investment bank lowered its growth forecast to 6.7 percent from 7 percent estimated earlier.
• The investment bank has projected global growth at 2.9 percent in calendar year 2022, less than half of the 6.2 per cent growth in 2021.
• CPI (Consumer Price Index) inflation is expected to be 6.5% for FY23.
• The current account deficit widened to a 10-year high of 3.3% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in FY23.

About Morgan stanley :

• Headquarters : New York, U.S
• Chairman & CEO : James P. Gorman

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan elected as President of UAE

• The Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates elected Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the President of UAE.
• He replaced Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who died at the age of 73.
• The Council held a meeting at the Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Additional Info :

• Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the first President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi

About Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan :

• Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan colloquially known by his initials as MBZ.
• He is the third president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi.
• MbZ, had already been wielding power for years in a period when Sheikh Khalifa suffered bouts of illness, including a stroke in 2014.

About UAE :

• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
• Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Manik Saha appointed as new CM of Tripura

• On May 15, 2022, Tripura BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Manik Saha will be the new chief minister of Tripura at Raj Bhawan in
• Governor SN Arya administered the oath to Saha.
• He is the 11th Chief Minister of Tripura.
• He was appointed after Biplab Kumar Deb stepped down from the post.

About Manik Saha :

• He is a dental surgeon by profession.
• He has served as the Professor and Head of the Department of the Tripura Medical College and BR Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital in Agartala.
• He had quit Congress and joined the BJP in 2016.
• He was appointed BJP’s Tripura unit president in 2020 and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in March 2022.
• He is also the president of the Tripura Cricket Association.

Additional Info :

• Biplab Kumar Deb was the BJP’s first Chief Minister in Tripura.

About Tripura :

• Governor : Satyadev Narayan Arya
• Capital: Agartala

Nidhi Chibber Appointed As CBSE Chairperson

• Senior bureaucrat Nidhi Chibber has been appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE).
• According to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry, She has been appointed as chairperson of the CBSE in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the government of India.

Other Appointments :

• S Gopalakrishnan, Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare.
• Rakesh Sarwal, Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog will be Managing Director, National Waqf Development Corporation Ltd., Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• Aditi Das Rout, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development has been promoted as Additional Secretary.
• Shyam Bhagat Negi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal will be Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat.
• Manisha Sinha, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance has been appointed as Additional Secretary.
• Kumar Anugreh Prasad Sinha will be Additional Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority.
• Amar Nath, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, has been posted as Additional Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

About Nidhi Chibber :

• Chibber, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.
• Currently She is Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries.

About CBSE :

• Established : 1929
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India

Vivek Kumar Dewangen appointed as New CMD Of REC Limited

• The Government of India appointed Vivek Kumar Dewangan, as the chairman and managing director of power sector lender REC Ltd, formerly known as Rural Electrification Corporation.

About Vivek Kumar Dewangen :

• Vivek Kumar Dewangen is a 1993 batch IAS officer of the Manipur cadre.
• Earlier, he had served as the Joint Secretary in the Power Ministry.
• Currently, he is an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power.

About REC Limited :

• Founded : 25 July 1969
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman & MD : Sanjay Malhotra
• REC Limited is a Public Sector Undertaking and finances and promotes power projects across India.
• It provides loans to Central/State Sector Power Utilities in the country, State Electricity Boards, Rural Electric Cooperatives, NGOs and Private Power Developers.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : MOU & AGREEMENTS

OMC Power signs MoU with IREDA for Clean Energy Growth Journey

• OMC Power announced a long-term relationship agreement with the Indian Renewable Energy Dev Agency Ltd (IREDA) towards building a Rural renewable energy ecosystem.
• It will be getting economic support for setting up Renewable energy plants to provide sustainable energy in the villages of Uttar Pradesh.
• Currently, OMC Power has 280 renewable energy plants across Uttar Pradesh and
• OMC Power plans to expand its footprint to 1000 sites to drastically reduce the Carbon footprint in rural India.
• Under IREDA’s “Access to Energy” scheme, this partnership will look to achieve long-term sustainability by supplying green and clean energy in rural areas.

Objective :

• To increase the supply and use of sustainable clean energy services in rural areas through improved access to financing for project developers.
• The facility has been backed by KFW, the German Development Bank.

About the Agreement :

• The agreement boosts the overall economic strata of rural areas in a systematic manner.
• The long-term engagement of OMC and IREDA will further deepen and strengthen the shared vision of sustainable energy development for a better and brighter tomorrow.
• The unique association of OMC Power and the IREDA will spur economic development among the rural population in India by providing access to electricity on demand.
• It will have a significant impact on the rural economy including that on the agriculture, education, and health sectors.

About OMC Power :

• Founded : 2011
• Headquarters : Gurgaon, Haryana
• CEO : Rohit Chandra

About IREDA :

• Established : 11th March, 1987 as a Public limited Government Company under the Companies Act, 1956
• IREDA has been awarded “Mini Ratna” (Category -I) status in 2015 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Motto : “Energy for Ever.”

Functions :

• To promote, develop and extend financial assistance for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency/Conservation Projects.

MoRD & Amazon signs MoU for online marketing of SHG products

• The Ministry of Rural Development and Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (Amazon) signed an MoU at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi .

Signatories :

• Charanjit Singh, Joint Secretary-RL-1, Ministry of Rural Development
• Sumit Sahay – Director, IN Marketplace Business, Amazon Seller Services Private Limited
• The MoU was signed in presence of Shri Giriraj Singh – Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department and Shri Nagandra Nath Sinha, Secretary- Rural Development.
• The MoU will enable SHG entrepreneurs under NRLM to offer their products to the buyers across India through AmazonSaheli Storefront and help SHG women achieve good prices for their varied products.

Features of the MoU :

• Amazon & MoRD will jointly enable Commercial and social development of women led rural enterprises across identified States/UTs.
• Amazon will provide Training & Onboarding support to MoRD appointed sellers to list products from Self Help Groups (SHGs) associated with MoRD on Amazon.in
• Amazon will offer Referral fee waiver, imaging & cataloging and account management support at launch to mitigate cold start for SHGs
• Amazon will help market and promote products listed by SHGs through the Saheli Storefront, Social media, Events and Onsite merchandising
• MoRD (through respective SRLM) will help identify and appraise GST verified sellers to sell on Amazon.in, and assist the sellers in securing GST, PAN etc.
• MoRD & Amazon will conduct joint workshops for awareness creation and assist the sellers in listing their products and to unlock growth levers to grow their business on Amazon.in

Additional Info :

• As on April 30, 2022, a total of 1088 products have been uploaded at Government e-Marketplace (GeM) by 455 SHGs/ SHG members.
• Meanwhile, there are 445 products from 114 SHG sellers on board on Flipkart representing 14 States.

About Ministry of Rural Development :

• Cabinet Minister : Giriraj Singh
• Minister of State : Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Faggan Singh Kulaste

INCOIS signs MoU with Indian Navy

• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Navy to provide training services and support to the School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology (SNOM) for conduct of various courses related to operational oceanography.
• The MoU was signed by Dr T.Srinivasa Kumar, Director of INCOIS and Commodore AA Abhyankar, Head of Indian Navy’s Oceanology and Meteorology Directorate.
• The agreement to be provided through the state-of-the-art International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOO).
• The MoU will allow future interactions and professional exchange of data between the Indian Navy and INCOIS.

About INCOIS :

• INCOIS is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Headquarters : Hyderabad, Telangana
• Director : T. Srinivasa Kumar

About ITCOO :

• ITCOO is the training arm of INCOIS
• Established : 2013
• It was recognised as one of the Regional Training Centers by the Ocean Teacher Global Academy of International Oceanographic Data Exchange to promote capacity development and optimisation of scientific base, technology and information system for operational oceanography.

About SNOM :

• SNOM is the ‘Center of Excellence’ in atmospheric sciences recognised by Cochin University of Science and Technology.

About Indian Navy :

• Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral R. Hari Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCHEMES

GatiShakti Sanchar’ portal for Centralised Right of Way launched by DoT:

• The Central government has launched the “GatiShakti Sanchar” platform for centralised Right of Way (RoW) permissions in order to allow universal and equal access to broadband services across India, particularly in rural areas.
• The portal, developed by MP State Electronics Development Corporation on behalf of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), was launched by Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw at an event in New Delhi in the presence of various state chief secretaries and IT secretaries along with the top officials of various telecom service providers (TSPs).

About GatiShakti Sanchar portal:

• Applicants from diverse telecom service providers (TSPs) and infrastructure providers (IPs) would be able to apply for the right of way licences to lay optical fibre cable and erect mobile towers through a unified platform for state and municipal governments.
• The software also has a sophisticated dashboard that displays state and district-level pendency status for effective RoW application tracking across the country.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITION AND MERGERS

Swiggy acquires restaurant tech platform Dineout for $200 million:

• An online food-delivery app, Swiggy has agreed to buy Times Internet’s restaurant technology and dining out platform
• Dineout will continue to operate as an independent app following the acquisition, according to Swiggy.
• Founders Ankit Mehrotra, Nikhil Bakshi, Sahil Jain and Vivek Kapoor will join Swiggy once the acquisition is completed.
• In the last 20 months, Swiggy has strengthened its food delivery business, expanded Instamart, its quick commerce grocery delivery to 28 cities.
• It has recently commenced drone trials for Instamart.

About Dineout:

• Dineout, launched by Mehrotra, Nikhil Bakshi, Sahil Jain, and Vivek Kapoor in 2012, allows customers to search for restaurants in their area and make reservations at any of the 50,000 restaurants in 20 cities.
• It also provides restaurants with contactless eating options, as well as discounts and privileges for Dineout Passport and Dineout Pay clients at certain restaurants.
• Dineout was purchased by Times Internet, the digital media division of Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd., which publishes ET.
• Dineout has close to 5 million customers, whereas Swiggy has over 50 million active annual transacting users, according to the data.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Thomas Cup Title: India beats Indonesia 3-0:

• India won its maiden Thomas Cup title beating 14-time champion Indonesia 3-0 in the final in Bangkok.
• World championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen defeated Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 8-21, 21-17, 21-16 in the first men’s singles to give India a 1-0 lead.
• World championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth edged Jonatan Christie 21-15, 23-21 in straight games in the second men’s singles match to seal India’s historic victory.
• India put on a show to remember, with medalist Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and the world number 8 doubles combo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy putting on unforgettable performances.

About Thomas Cup:

• The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men’s Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation, the sport’s global governing body.
• Founded: 1949

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds dies:

• Former Australia cricketer and two-time World Cup winner Andrew Symonds died in a car crash.
• The 46-year-old, who represented Australia in 26 Tests and 198 one-day internationals between 1998 and 2009, was killed in a single-car collision in Townsville, Queensland.
• Symonds was also an excellent fielder, playing a major role in Australia’s back-to-back 50-over World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007.

About Symond

• Symonds, who was born in England and had one Afro-Caribbean father, is also known for the infamous “monkeygate” affair, which pushed him into a downward spiral.
• In the 2008 New Year Test in Sydney, he claimed India spinner Harbhajan Singh called him a “monkey.”
• He featured in 198 ODIs scoring six centuries and 30 half-centuries while also contributing 133 wickets with his more than handy off-spin and medium pace.
• Symonds also played 14 T20I for Australia, managing 337 runs and eight wickets.

Additional Info:

• He was the third former Australian cricketer to tragically pass away in 2022 after champion leg-spinner Shane Warne died from a heart attack in Thailand in March.
• Former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh also passed away from a heart attack earlier this year.

Daily CA on May 17 :

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• International Family Day or International Day of Families is observed every year on May 15.
• The International Day of Living Together in Peace is celebrated every year on May 16.
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• OMC Power announced a long-term relationship agreement with the Indian Renewable Energy Dev Agency Ltd (IREDA) towards building a Rural renewable energy ecosystem.
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• India won its maiden Thomas Cup title beating 14-time champion Indonesia 3-0 in the final in Bangkok.
• Former Australia cricketer and two-time World Cup winner Andrew Symonds died in a car crash.