1. New Liberation War Gallery Inaugurated at the Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka
Tags: International News
On 30 May a new Liberation War Gallery of 1971 was inaugurated at the Indian Cultural Center of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
An overview of the news
Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was the chief guest on the occasion.
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma joins Home Minister in inauguration of Liberation War Gallery
The War Gallery houses some rare photographs of the Liberation War of 1971, which culminated in the liberation of then East Pakistan and its rise as the newest nation of South Asian countries.
The inaugural program was attended by many freedom fighters, Bir Muktijodha, and distinguished guests, including many eminent personalities of Bangladesh, representatives of the cultural and educational fields of Bangladesh, and youth.
The gallery displays heroic photographs and documents from the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 as a testament to the enduring bond of friendship between India and Bangladesh.
It pays tribute to the brave freedom fighters who fought against oppression and tyranny.
The gallery honors the memory of the unknown millions who laid down their lives during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
Liberation War of 1971
In the 1950s, Pakistan was ruled by a military-bureaucratic rule that ruled the entire country (East and West Pakistan) in an undemocratic manner.
The Bengalites had no political representation in this system of governance.
This dominance of West Pakistan was challenged by the Bengalis during the general elections of 1970.
In the general election of 1970, the Awami League of East Pakistan's Sheikh Mujibur Rahman got a clear majority.
West Pakistan was not ready for any leader of East Pakistan to rule the country.
On March 26, 1971, West Pakistan launched Operation Searchlight in East Pakistan.
As a result, lakhs of Bangladeshis had to take refuge in India.
The Pakistani army had to face defeat due to the bravery of the 'Muktiwahini Sena' and Indian soldiers who fought for the independence of Bangladesh.
On 6 December 1971, a new nation Bangladesh was born out of 13 days of war with the intervention of India.
2. China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station
Tags: Science and Technology International News
In China, three astronauts, including a civilian, were launched to the Tiangong Space Station on Shenzhou-16 on 30 May.
An overview of the news
The civilian, Professor Gui Haichao of Beihang University, was the first to be placed in orbit in space.
This is the first mission for Shenzhou-16 Tiangong since it entered the application and development phase.
Tiangong is the crown jewel of China's space program, which has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. The launch was a complete success and the astronauts are in good condition.
The Shenzhou-16 crew was launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket at 9:31 a.m. local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
China's first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the Soviet Union and the United States to send a man into space from its own resources.
3. India extends $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka till March 2024
Tags: International Relations International News
India on May 30 extended its $1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka till March 2024 to help purchase essential food, medicine and other essential commodities as Sri Lanka grapples with an unprecedented economic crisis.
An overview of the news
This agreement is an important step towards continuation of financial assistance provided by the Indian side to the Sri Lankan Government for procurement of essential items.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Sri Lanka's Minister of State for Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, senior officials from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
The credit line was extended last year when Sri Lanka was passing through its worst economic crisis.
The facility has been instrumental in prompt procurement of critical supplies such as fuel, medicines, food items and industrial raw materials for the island nation.
This extension of financial assistance further underscores the strong commitment of the Government of India as it continues to assist Sri Lanka with a comprehensive package of approximately USD 4 billion in line with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.
About sri lanka
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a tropical island nation located off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent.
Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Munnar and the Palk Strait.
Capital: Colombo (Executive and Judicial) and Sri Jayawardenepura (Legislative).
Official languages: Sinhala and Tamil
President – Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister – Dinesh Gunawardena
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
4. India extends $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka till March 2024
Tags: International Relations International News
India on May 30 extended its $1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka till March 2024 to help purchase essential food, medicine and other essential commodities as Sri Lanka grapples with an unprecedented economic crisis.
An overview of the news
This agreement is an important step towards continuation of financial assistance provided by the Indian side to the Sri Lankan Government for procurement of essential items.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Sri Lanka's Minister of State for Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, senior officials from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
The credit line was extended last year when Sri Lanka was passing through its worst economic crisis.
The facility has been instrumental in prompt procurement of critical supplies such as fuel, medicines, food items and industrial raw materials for the island nation.
This extension of financial assistance further underscores the strong commitment of the Government of India as it continues to assist Sri Lanka with a comprehensive package of approximately USD 4 billion in line with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.
About sri lanka
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a tropical island nation located off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent.
Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Munnar and the Palk Strait.
Capital: Colombo (Executive and Judicial) and Sri Jayawardenepura (Legislative).
Official languages: Sinhala and Tamil
President – Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister – Dinesh Gunawardena
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
5. Tele-law program achieves new milestone
Tags: National National News
Tele-law program achieved a significant milestone by empowering 40 lakh beneficiaries with pre-litigation advice.
An Overview of the News
Objective of Tele-Law: This program serves as an e-interface mechanism for obtaining legal advice and consultation at the pre-litigation stage.
Connectivity: Needy persons can connect with panel lawyers through video conferencing/telephonic facilities at Common Service Centers (CSCs) located at Panchayat level.
Launch: The Tele-Law program was launched in 2017.
Accessibility through Mobile App: The Tele-Law service is now directly accessible through the Tele-Law Mobile App available on Android and 10S.
Accessibility and Convenience: The program ensures convenient access to legal aid, regardless of geographical location.
Empowerment: This program empowers disadvantaged individuals by providing pre-litigation advice, enabling them to make informed decisions and understand their rights.
Holistic Support: Tele-law also provides information on legal matters, rights awareness and alternative dispute resolution methods.
Collaboration: The success of the program is due to the collaborative efforts between the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Panel Lawyers and CSCs.
Impact: The achievement of 40 lakh beneficiaries reflects the significant impact of the program in promoting access to justice and legal empowerment.
6. Tele-law program achieves new milestone
Tags: National National News
Tele-law program achieved a significant milestone by empowering 40 lakh beneficiaries with pre-litigation advice.
An Overview of the News
Objective of Tele-Law: This program serves as an e-interface mechanism for obtaining legal advice and consultation at the pre-litigation stage.
Connectivity: Needy persons can connect with panel lawyers through video conferencing/telephonic facilities at Common Service Centers (CSCs) located at Panchayat level.
Launch: The Tele-Law program was launched in 2017.
Accessibility through Mobile App: The Tele-Law service is now directly accessible through the Tele-Law Mobile App available on Android and 10S.
Accessibility and Convenience: The program ensures convenient access to legal aid, regardless of geographical location.
Empowerment: This program empowers disadvantaged individuals by providing pre-litigation advice, enabling them to make informed decisions and understand their rights.
Holistic Support: Tele-law also provides information on legal matters, rights awareness and alternative dispute resolution methods.
Collaboration: The success of the program is due to the collaborative efforts between the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Panel Lawyers and CSCs.
Impact: The achievement of 40 lakh beneficiaries reflects the significant impact of the program in promoting access to justice and legal empowerment.
7. ISRO to launch Chandrayaan-3 in July this year
Tags: Science and Technology National News
ISRO Chairman S Somnath has announced that Chandrayaan-3, the successor of Chandrayaan-2, will be launched in July this year.
An Overview of the News
The announcement was made after the successful launch of second generation navigation satellite NSV-01 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to demonstrate India's end-to-end capabilities in lunar exploration and its ability to safely land on and orbit the Moon.
The mission will consist of an indigenous lander module, a propulsion module and a rover.
Both the lander and the rover will be equipped with scientific payloads, which will enable them to conduct experiments and collect valuable data on the lunar surface.
Important Points
Chandrayaan-1:
It was the first Indian lunar probe launched by ISRO.
It was part of the Chandrayaan program and was launched in October 2008 and the mission lasted till August 2009.
Chandrayaan-1 consisted of a Lunar Orbiter and an Impactor.
The Lunar Orbiter conducted scientific research and collected data about the Moon.
The objective of the mission was to make a detailed map of the Moon's surface and study its composition.
Chandrayaan-1 had advanced instruments to test the presence of water ice and minerals.
The spacecraft carried both Indian and international scientific payloads.
Chandrayaan-1 made important discoveries including evidence of water molecules on the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-2:
India's second lunar exploration mission developed by ISRO.
Components: Lunar Orbiter, Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover.
Scientific Objective: Study the composition of the lunar surface and find lunar water.
Launch: July 22, 2019, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Landing Site: Intended for the south polar region of the Moon at a latitude of 70°S.
Planned Landing Date: September 6, 2019
Landing Result: The lander crashed due to a software glitch.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO):
It was established on 15 August 1969.
It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Chairman: S Somnath
8. India gets approval to set up second hydroelectric project in Nepal
Tags: International News
The Government of Nepal has approved India's Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN) to develop the second hydroelectric project in the country.
An Overview of the News
- SJVN is currently involved in the development of the Arun-III Hydroelectric Project in eastern Nepal with a capacity of 900 MW.
- The Investment Board Nepal (IBN), chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, approved the draft Project Development Agreement (PDA) between Nepal and SJVN.
- The PDA is for development of the Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project in eastern Nepal with a capacity of 669 MW.
- The Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project is to be developed by SJVN.
About Nepal
- The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.
- It is a landlocked country in South Asia.
Prime Minister - Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda
President - Ram Chandra Paudel
Capital - Kathmandu
Currency - Nepalese Rupee
9. Ireland becomes first country to introduce comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products
Tags: International News
Ireland has become the first country in the European Union to implement comprehensive health labelling on alcohol products.
An Overview of the News
- Its purpose is to provide information to consumers about the health risks associated with the consumption of alcohol.
- The Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and the remaining provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act of Ireland were signed into law by Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health, on 22 May 2023.
- Regulations require alcohol product labels in Ireland to include key information such as calorie content and grams of alcohol.
- The labels will prominently display warnings about the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, as well as the dangers of liver disease and alcohol-related cancers.
- The introduction of comprehensive labelling enables consumers to make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption.
World Health Organization (WHO)
- The World Health Organization is a specialised agency of the United Nations that was established on April 7, 1948.
- Every year 7th April is celebrated as "World Health Day".
Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland
Director General - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia
10. Patna becomes first municipal corporation to use CBDC
Tags: National News
Patna Municipal Corporation in Bihar, India, has become the first municipal corporation in the country to adopt Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
An Overview of the News
- The digital currency called e-Rupee generated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will be used in the entire Patna Municipal Corporation area.
- The launch event took place on May 23, 2023 with the participation of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Municipal Commissioner of Patna Municipal Corporation.
- The implementation of the CBDC will start from the municipal headquarters in the Maurya Lok complex, and later extend to all regional offices and payment counters within the corporation.
- A workshop was organised for the corporators to educate them about the benefits and applications of digital e-Rupee currency.
- The online payment system will contribute to augmenting the revenue of Patna Municipal Corporation, as well as provide convenient facilities to individuals to make payments from the comfort of their homes.
- Central bank digital currency (CBDC) differs from private digital currencies, such as cryptocurrencies, in that it is government-issued currency and represents a liability of the central bank.
About Reserve Bank of India
- RBI was established on April 1, 1935 as per the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
- It started functioning from 1 April 1935 and Sir Osborne Smith was made the first Governor of RBI.
- The central office of the Reserve Bank was established in Kolkata which was permanently shifted to Mumbai in the year 1937.
- It was nationalised in 1949 and now the Government of India owns the RBI.
- It has the power to regulate banks under the Banking Regulation Act 1949.
- It has the power to regulate Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under the RBI Act 1934.
- RBI is also the regulator of digital payment systems under the Payment and Settlement Act 2007.
- Before independence till 1942 RBI used to issue currency not only for India but also for Myanmar which was then known as Burma. However, it was discontinued after 1947.
Headquarters of RBI: Mumbai
RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das
