1. Bengaluru based startup Pravaig to supply batteries to European armed forces
Tags: International News
Bengaluru-based energy and technology startup Pravaig Dynamics has announced that it has received an order to supply compact energy storage to the European Armed Forces.
The startup said the made-in-India tactical batteries will power equipment used by European combat forces.
About Pravaig
It is a heavy-duty power bank that is portable and weighs 14 kilograms.
It is of great utility to the digitally connected modern military and Special Forces personnel who have to operate in high-risk zones.
They require constant power back-up while using gadgets.
These batteries are designed, engineered and manufactured in India.
Significance
This supply marks a major shift in the defence landscape of India.
It marks a turning point in the reversal of India's high technology defence industry, from users to developers, from importers to exporters.
The field pack can be used to energise a military person’s duties and it can be used to deploy remote sensors.
A powerful tactical battery can be used even to operate larger military equipment such as drones.
It can also help coordinate tactical operations that involve multiple weapon systems.
2. The Centre has extended the wheat procurement season till 31st May, 2022.
Tags: National Economy/Finance
The Centre has extended the wheat procurement season till May 31, 2022.
The Centre has asked states and union territories to continue procurement till the end of May.
Farmers are expected to benefit from the extended period of wheat procurement.
The decision has been taken in view of the request by the state governments to continue the procurement process.
Procurement of wheat under central pool in Rabi marketing season 2022-23 is going on smoothly.
The central government has also decided to ban the export of wheat to check the high prices of wheat.
Till May 14, 180 lakh tonnes of wheat has been procured, due to which about 16.83 lakh farmers have benefited from the MSP price of Rs 36,208 crore.
Why did India ban the export of wheat?
Record retail inflation has dashed India's export hopes.
While the prices of wheat have increased by about 20%, the prices of essential food items like flour have increased by about 15% last year.
Apart from bread and biscuits, there has also been an increase in the prices of other food items in which wheat is used.
In late March, the heatwave affected the production of food grains, especially in Northwest India.
3. PM Narendra Modi visited Lumbini in Nepal on occasion of Buddha Purnima
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lumbini, Nepal, to participate in the Buddha Jayanti (Buddha Purnima) celebrations at the Mayadevi temple on May 16.
Lumbini (Nepal) is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.
The Prime Minister took a flight from Kushinagar International Airport to Lumbini.
Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage at Lumbini Monastery Area, Lumbini, Nepal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited the Mayadevi temple in Lumbini, Nepal.
About Buddha Purnima
Buddha Purnima marks the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
It is believed that he attained enlightenment on this day.
People who adopt Buddhism in India prefer to wear white clothes and avoid consuming non-vegetarian food.
People pour water into the root of the Bodhi tree, give alms and meditate.
On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, many devotees visit Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
Bodhi Temple is the place where Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
About Kushinagar
Kushinagar is an international tourist destination which is closely associated with Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
It is one of the four holy places of Lord Buddha.
Buddha delivered his last sermon in Kushinagar and attained Mahaparinirvana (salvation) in 483 BC and was cremated at Rambhar Stupa.
The reclining nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 mt long and is made of monolith red-sandstone of the 5th century A.D.
It represents the ‘Dying-Buddha’ reclining on his right side with his face towards the west.
About Maya Devi Temple
It is one of the most ancient Buddhist Temples in Lumbini.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is known as the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
The temple is situated in the middle of the park grounds called Lumbini Development Zone.
This temple marks the spot where Maya Devi gave birth to Gautam Buddha.
4. Sheikh Mohammed named UAE President
Tags: Person in news International News
On May 14, the rulers of the United Arab Emirates unanimously appointed Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the nation's president.
The country's seven sheikhs, who are the rulers of the UAE, took the decision at a meeting held at the Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi.
The post fell vacant after the country's president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 73, died on 13 May.
The transition of power marks only the third time this U.S.-allied nation of seven sheikhdoms has selected a President since becoming an independent nation in 1971.
The UAE has had a presidential system since it emerged as an independent nation in 1971.
Important facts about UAE
There are no rivers in the UAE
The UAE was the first country in the world to appoint a minister for artificial intelligence
The Arabian Oryx is the national animal of the UAE
Six of the world’s tallest hotels are in the UAE
It is located on the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula.
The country's form of government is an absolute monarchy.
Each emirate of the UAE is ruled by a separate royal family.
The falcon is the UAE's national symbol
Capital city - Abu Dhabi
7 Emirates of the UAE - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain.
Religion - Muslims 76%, Christians 19%
Language - Arabic
Currency - Dirhams
National Day - 2 December
5. UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away
Tags: Person in news International News
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (73 years), the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, passed away on May 13, 2022.
Expressing his deepest condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Indian Prime Minister said that India-UAE relations have prospered under his guidance.
The Government of India has declared a day of national mourning on his death. During this time no public festival will be celebrated in any government offices.
The UAE government has declared 40 days of national mourning in the country on the death of Sheikh Khalifa. During this, the national flag will remain at half-mast. All government offices and private institutions including ministries will also remain closed for three days.
The world's tallest building 'Dubai's Burj Khalifa' was also named after the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum to be Acting President :
According to the UAE's constitution, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the ruling Vice President and Premier of Dubai, will take over as acting president until the country's Federal Council meets within 30 days to elect a new president.
Born in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa became the President of the UAE in 2004 after the death of his father. He was the country's second president and the 16th leader of Abu Dhabi.
About UAE -
Capital- Abu Dhabi
Prime Minister- Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Currency- UAE Dirham
6. kinetic communication portal
Tags: National News
Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav launched Gatishakti Sanchar Portal in New Delhi.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
The unified and centralised portal will facilitate the smooth expansion of digital communication infrastructure across the country.
The portal was envisioned to streamline the process for transparency, accountability and effective monitoring of various digital based projects.
This portal will be helpful in implementing a 5G network across the country.
This portal will speed up the integration process for the Government's Broadband for All initiative.
7. El Salvador released the design of the bitcoin city
Tags: International News
Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America, released the design of a bitcoin city under construction.
The city of Crypto will be built near the Conchagua volcano on the Gulf of Fonseca in the southeast of the Central American country.
Bitcoin City was first announced during the Latin American Bitcoin and Blockchain Conference.
Releasing the layout of the bitcoin city, an investment of 30 thousand dollars has been made by the government.
Countries adopting bitcoin
El Salvador is the first country in the world to recognize bitcoin as an official currency last year.
Recently, the Central African Republic became the second country in the world and the first in Africa to recognize bitcoin.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About El Salvador -
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America.
Capital - San Salvador
President- Nayib Bukele
currency - bitcoin
8. ISRO successfully test-fires 'Human-rated' solid rocket carrier (HS200) for Gaganyaan program
Tags: National Science and Technology
%20for%20Gaganyaan%20program%20copy.jpg)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the static test of the 'Human-rated' solid rocket carrier (HS200) for the Gaganyaan program at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The HS200 satellite launch vehicle is a 'human-rated' version of the GSLV Mk III S200 rocket carrier, popularly known as LVM-3.
The 'human-rated' version is the process of certification of a spacecraft or launch vehicle to show that the vehicle is capable of carrying humans safely into space.
The design and development of the HS200 carrier was completed at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram and the propellant casting was completed at SDSC, Sriharikota.
The S200 motor is the first stage of the LVM-3 launch vehicle, intended to launch a 4,000 kg class satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit.
After the success of this test, ISRO has moved one more step towards the Gaganyaan program.
Gaganyaan mission of india
Gaganyaan is a mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Under this mission, three space missions will be sent into orbit, out of these three missions, 2 will be unmanned, while one will be a manned mission.
In the first phase, Gaganyaan's unmanned mission will be G-1. After this a robot named Vyommitra will be sent at the end of 2022.
Gaganyaan mission with crew will be launched for the first time in 2023.
The human space flight programme, called the Orbital Module, will have three Indian astronauts, including a woman.
The three-stage GSLV Mk III will be used for the launch of Gaganyaan, which is capable of launching heavy satellites. GSLV Mk III is also called Launch Vehicle Mark-3.
With the launch of Gaganyaan mission, India will join the club of US, China and Russia.
9. Campbell Wilson named as MD and CEO of Air India
Tags: Person in news National News
Tata Sons has announced the appointment of Campbell Wilson as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India.
Wilson's appointment comes after Turkey's Ilkar IC decided not to take the role of Chief Executive of Air India.
Wilson is currently the CEO of Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.
Wilson has 26 years of experience in both full service airlines and low cost airlines.
Other appointments -
Chief Commercial Officer of Air India - Nipun Aggarwal
Chief Human Resource Officer of Air India - Suresh Dutt Tripathi
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Establishment of Air India - 1932
Air India Headquarters- New Delhi
Founder of Air India- Ratan Tata
President of Air India- N Chandrasekaran
10. India bans wheat exports with immediate effect
Tags: National Economics/Business
The central government has banned the export of wheat with immediate effect. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a notification in this regard.
Why has the central government banned the export of wheat?
The export policy of wheat has been amended to manage the overall food security of the country.
The ban has been imposed to support the needs of neighbouring countries and other vulnerable countries.
The decision to ban the export of all types of wheat with immediate effect will bring down the market prices of wheat immediately and bring it closer to the MSP of Rs 2,015 per quintal.
India’s wheat exports
India's wheat exports rose to 7 million tonnes worth USD 2.05 billion in 2021-22 due to strong global demand.
In the last fiscal, about 50 per cent of the total wheat exports were exported to Bangladesh.
The country exported around 963,000 tonnes of wheat this year against 130,000 tonnes in the same period last year.
India was looking to export 10 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23.
India would send trade delegations to nine countries – Thailand, Morocco, Turkey, Indonesia, Tunisia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Algeria and Lebanon to explore possibilities of boosting wheat shipments.
India’s wheat purchases have also declined sharply by 44 per cent to 16.2 million tonnes as of May 1 in the current Rabi marketing season.
The rabi marketing season runs from April to March.
