DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: May 10, 2022

Pulitzer Prize 2022: India's Amit Dave, Danish Siddiqui get Pulitzer Prize

Tags: Latest Popular Awards

The Pulitzer Prize 2022 in different fields of journalism, book, drama and music were announced on 9 May.

• The award winners include Indian journalists Adnan Abidi, Sana Irshad Mattoo, Amit Dave along with The Washington Post.

• The late Danish Siddiqui of Reuters photographer has been given this award posthumously.

• He was assassinated during a conflict between the Taliban and the Afghan army.

• List of winners

• Public service - winner  The Washington Post, January 6, 2021 for reporting the attack on Capitol Hill

• Breaking news reporting - winner   Miami Herald - for coverage of the collapse of seaside apartment towers in Florida

• Investigative reporting - winner - Rebecca Woolington's Corey G. Johnson and Tampa Bay Times' Eli Murray for highlighting the highly toxic hazards inside a Florida battery recycling plant.

• Explanatory reporting - winner - To the staff of Quanta magazine, especially Natalie Wolchower, for reporting on how the Inco Webb Space Telescope works.

• Local reporting - winner - Madison Hopkins of the Better Government Association and Cecilia Reyes of the Chicago Tribune - for reporting on Chicago's unfinished building and fire safety

• National reporting - winner - Employees of The New York Times

• International reporting - winner - The New York Times Employees

• Feature writing - winner - Jennifer Senior of The Atlantic

• Feature photography - winner - Adnan Abidi, Sana Irshad Mattoo, Amit Dave and the late Danish Siddiqui of Reuters were honoured for photography during the Corona period in India.

• Commentary - winner - Melinda Heineberger

• Criticism - winner - Salamisha Tillet, The New York Times

• Audio reporting - winner - Employees of Futuro Media and PRX

• Novel - winner - The Netanyas, Writer- Joshua Cohen

• About Pulitzer Prize

• It was established in 1917.  

• It is administered by Columbia University and the Pulitzer Prize Board.

• The award is named after Joseph Pulitzer.

• He was a newspaper publisher who gave money in his will to Columbia University to launch a journalism school and establish the Prize.

• Each winner receives a certificate and a US$15,000 cash prize.

• A gold medal is awarded to the winner in the Public Service category.

next census will be fully digital with 100 % accuracy; Birth and death register to be linked with census

Tags: Latest National News

Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the next census will be completely digital with 100 percent accuracy.

• The birth and death register will be linked to the census.

• With the electronic process and enumeration of people, the census will be updated automatically after every birth and death in the country.

• Shah was inaugurating the new office building of the Directorate of Census Operations in Assam at Amingaon in Kamrup district on 9th May.

• The digital census will shape the 'policies of the country for the next 25 years'.

• The 2021 census was delayed due to the Covid pandemic and will be completed by 2024.

• The new software will have multiple uses as it will be linked to registration of births and deaths.

• As soon as someone is born, his/her details will be updated in the software.

• Once that person turns 18, his name will be registered in the voter list from the census office itself.

• Details like change of residence of people will also be updated through the software.

• About Census

• Census involves the process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, evaluating, publishing and disseminating statistical data about a population and its characteristics.

• The decennial census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and the Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.

• It is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948.

• Census is a union subject under Article 246 of the Constitution of India.

• The first non-synchronous census in India was conducted in 1872 during the reign of Governor-General Lord Mayo.

• The first synchronous census was taken under British rule in February 1881, by W C Plowden (Census Commissioner of India).

• Since then, the census has been carried out uninterruptedly every ten years.

• Census 2011 was the 15th National Census of the country since 1872. 

• This was the seventh census after independence.

Bhupender Yadav leads Indian delegation at COP15 summit on desertification

Tags: Summits

The Indian delegation led by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has reached Abidjan, Cote D Ivoire to attend the Conference of Parties, 15th meeting of the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD COP15) from 9th to 20th May 2022.

• India had hosted the fourteenth session of this Conference from 2nd to 13th September 2019, in New Delhi.

• The COP15 theme is ‘Land, Life, Legacy from scarcity to prosperity'.

• It is a call to action to protect land which is the lifeline on this planet, and continues to benefit present and future generations.

• Land is the cornerstone of a healthy, productive society, and COP15 will explore the relationship between land and other key issues.

• Agenda of the Conference 

• Drought, land restoration, land rights, gender equality and youth empowerment are the top subjects on the Conference agenda.

• Through its decisions adopted by UNCCD’s 197 Parties, COP15 is expected to galvanise sustainable solutions for land restoration and drought resilience.

• About UNCCD 

• It stands for United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

• It was established in 1994.

• Its aim is to combat desertification and the ill effects of drought.

• It is a legally binding convention that links development and the environment with sustainable land management.

• The Convention obliges national governments to take measures to deal with the issue of desertification.

• India ratified the Convention to Combat Desertification in December 1996.

• India is the COP president for 2019 – 2021.

• About COP

• The conference of the parties (COP) is the meeting of the ratifying governments.

• The Prime Minister of India at COP14 announced that the country will resettle an additional 50 lakh hectares of land by 2030.

India, Oman to hold meeting to boost economic ties

Tags: International Relations

The commerce and industry ministers of India and Oman will meet on May 11 to discuss ways to further boost economic ties between the two countries.

• The 48-member delegation will include senior officials and business representatives from health, pharmaceuticals, mining, tourism, energy, shipping, telecommunications and real estate.

• During the visit, senior officials from both sides will participate in the 10th session of the India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) to be held on May 11.

• The meeting will be co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Omani counterpart.

• The India-Oman Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting will be organised jointly by FICCI and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry on May 12.

• Bilateral trade between India and Oman

• Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown by 82 percent to $9.94 billion in 2021-22.

• Major items of Indian exports to Oman - mineral fuels, textiles, machinery, electrical items, chemicals, iron and steel, tea, coffee, spices, rice, meat products and seafood.

• Major import items from Oman to India - urea, LNG, polypropylene, lubricating oil, dates and chromite ore.

• Various Indian financial institutions and PSUs have a presence in Oman.

• Military exercises 

• Army exercise between both countries : Al Najah

• Air Force exercise between both countries : Eastern Bridge

• Naval Exercise between both countries : Naseem Al Bahr

• About Oman

• It is a country in Western Asia.

• It is located on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and extends to the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

• Oman shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen

• It shares maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan.

• Capital - Muscat

• currency - omani rial 

• president - Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

PM-WANI based public WiFi scheme launched at 100 railway stations

Tags: Government Schemes National News

RailTel, a Mini Ratna PSU, has launched Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme across 100 railway stations in the country.

• This public-friendly service was launched by RailTel chairman and managing director Puneet Chawla on 9 May. 

• To access this WiFi network, Android users can download the mobile app 'Wi-Dot' available on Google Play Store.

• This app is developed in collaboration with C-DOT.

• This method is in addition to the existing method of accessing WiFi at these stations through the conventional method of selecting RailWire Service Set Identifier (SSID). 

• RailTel's WiFi network is now spread across 6,102 railway stations across the country and has 17,792 WiFi hotspots.

• About PM-WANI  Scheme

• PM-WANI is an ambitious program of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to connect all silo Wi-Fi networks for ease of use and increase broadband usage for the public.

• The main objective of this scheme is to provide Wi-Fi facilities at all public places.

• The government plans to extend PM-Vani-based reach of RailTel's public Wi-Fi services to all 6,102 railway stations in a phased manner by the end of June 2022.

• Through this scheme now every citizen of the whole country can be connected to the internet.

• It will also be easy to do business through this scheme.

Monkeypox virus case confirmed in U.K.

Tags: Latest International News

A case of monkeypox virus has been reported in Britain, a person who returned after travelling to Nigeria has been confirmed with monkeypox virus.

• Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958.

• According to the World Health Organisation, the first case of monkeypox was reported in humans in the year 1970.

• What is monkeypox virus ?

• Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus that is transmitted mostly from rats and monkeys to humans.

• The disease belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus, which includes variola virus, vaccinia virus, and cowpox virus.

• Monkeypox is a zoonosis, meaning it is a disease that spreads from an infected animal to humans.

• Symptoms of monkeypox

• Dark red spots on the body.

• Red rash on the skin.

• flu symptoms.

• symptoms of pneumonia.

• Fever and headache.

• Muscle pain.

• To get cold

• treatment 

• There is no cure available for this disease. But smallpox vaccines, antivirals and VIG can be used to prevent this disease.

Rajasthan become the First 10 GW Solar State of India

Tags: National News

According to Mercom's India Solar Project Tracker, Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to cross 10 GW of cumulative solar installations on a massive scale.

• The total installed power capacity of Rajasthan is 32.5 GW.

• Renewable energy contributes 55% of the electricity capacity to the total installed power capacity of Rajasthan. While thermal energy contributes 43%, and nuclear power contributes the remaining 2%.

• Solar is the major source in Rajasthan, accounting for about 36% of the electricity capacity mix and 64% of renewable energy.

• Rajasthan's Solar Energy Policy 2019, aims to achieve the target of 30 GW of solar power by the financial year 2024-25.

• As of December 2021, India's cumulative solar installed capacity is 55GW. Within 55GW, grid-connected utility-scale projects contribute 77%.

• Mercom India

• It is a subsidiary of US-based Mercom Capital Group. It is a clean energy research and communications firm specialising in the Indian cleantech markets.

Nirmala Sitharaman launches NSDL’s investor awareness programme for students

Tags: National News

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) investor awareness program 'Market Ka Eklavya' for students.

• The program named 'Market Ka Eklavya' is an online investor awareness program for students in Hindi and other regional languages.

• National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) has launched this new investor awareness program as part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations.

• The objective of the 'Market Ka Eklavya' program is to introduce the basics of the securities market in online mode and to provide training on financial markets for the students.

• About National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) 

• This organisation works under the Ministry of Finance of India.

• NSDL is India's first and one of the leading Central Securities Depositories in the world.

• It has been instrumental in transforming the Indian securities market by facilitating the holding and transfer of securities in demat form.

• Founded- 1996

• Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra

• MD & CEO- Padmaja Chunduru

• NSDL is now one of the 6 payments banks established in India.

Madrid Open : Rising Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz beat Alexander Zverev to win title

Tags: Sports

Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev (Germany) to win the men's singles Madrid Open 2022 title.

• Alcaraz achieved this title by defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

• This is Carlos Alcaraz's fourth title of 2022 and his second Masters 1000 title after Miami 2022.

• Other categories winners -

• Women’s singles-  Ons Jabeur (Tunisia)

• Men’s doubles- Wesley Koolhof  (Netherlands) & Neal Skupski (United Kingdom)

• Women’s doubles- Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) &  Giuliana Olmos (Mexico)

• Madrid Open 2022 

• It was the 20th edition of the ATP Tour event and the 13th edition of the WTA Tour.

• The tournament is held annually in Madrid, Spain.

Priyanka Mohite becomes first Indian woman to scale five peaks above 8,000 m

Tags: National Person in news

Priyanka Mohite, a resident of Satara in western Maharashtra, on May 05, 2022, became the first Indian woman to scale five peaks above 8,000 metres after climbing Mount Kanchenjunga.

• Priyanka successfully completed her expedition to the world's third highest peak Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) on May 05 at 4.52 pm.

• Priyanka Mohite is the youngest mountaineer from Maharashtra and the third shortest in the country to scale the world's highest mountain peak Mount Everest (8,848 m).

• He scaled Africa's highest mountain peak Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), located in Tanzania, in 2016.

• In the year 2018, Priyanka successfully climbed Mount Lhotse (8,516 metres).

• In the year 2019, she became the first female mountaineer from India to scale Mount Makalu (8,485 m), the fifth highest peak in the world.

• Priyanka had completed the fourth phase of the campaign to reach five mountain peaks higher than eight thousand in April 2021 by stepping on Mount Annapurna (8,091 m), the world's tenth highest peak.

• Priyanka Mohite was awarded the Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award in the year 2020.

Narayan Rane to inaugurate the first Centre of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK) in New Delhi

Tags: National News

Union Minister for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane will inaugurate the first Centre of Excellence for Khadi on 11th May 2022 in New Delhi.

• The Khadi Center of Excellence has been established at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi, and has sub-branches at Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Kolkata and Shillong.

• Its purpose is to design clothes, make curtains for homes etc. and develop accessories for people of all age groups.

• It also aims to follow all the processes under global standards in terms of quality, design and trade.

• Knowledge Portal for Khadi 

• The Khadi Centre of Excellence is in the process of developing a knowledge portal for Khadi to guide all the Khadi institutions for designing.

• The knowledge portal will guide the design, which includes colour, outline, layer, weave, print, shape, warp etc.

Home Minister Amit Shah confers President's Colours Award to Assam Police in Guwahati

Tags: National News

Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President's Color Award to Assam Police in Guwahati and said that terrorism is almost over and talks are on for peace.

• Assam is the 10th state in the country to receive this honour which is given in recognition of exceptional services.

• About  President's Colours Award

• The President's colour Award is one of the "greatest honours" given to a military unit in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the nation during both war and peace.

• It is also known as ′Nishan′.

• It is an emblem worn by all officers of the unit on the left hand sleeve of their uniform.

• Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Gujarat and Tripura are the other states that have received this award.

• Delhi is the only Union Territory to receive this prestigious award.

• About Assam

• Assam is known for Assam tea and Assam silk.

• The first site for oil drilling in Asia.

• The state shares its borders with Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, and West Bengal.

• The state shares international borders with Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan.

• Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma is the 15th Chief Minister 

• Governor - Prof Jagdish Mukhi is the 30th Governor 

PM condoles demise of noted Santoor maestro, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma

Tags: National Person in news

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the demise of noted Santoor maestro, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.

• He died on 10 May at the age of 84.

• The renowned musician, who breathed his last in Mumbai, had been suffering from kidney-related issues for the past six months and was on dialysis.

• The Jammu-born musician, also a Padma Vibhushan recipient, is believed to be the first musician to have played Indian classical music on the santoor.

• He began learning santoor at the age of thirteen.

• He was instrumental in popularising the santoor and taking it to a global scale with his style.

• His first ever performance was in Mumbai in 1995. 

• He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.