22nd-23rd May, 2023

1. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched ‘NEP SAARTHI- Student Ambassador for Academic Reforms in Transforming Higher Education in India’ to involve students in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
2. IIT-Madras has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Israel to build an ‘India-Israel Center of Water Technology’ (CoWT) in Water Resources Management and Water Technologies.
3. Telangana has launched the SAHAS initiative for making workplaces safer for women.
4. Visakhapatnam district launched the first-of-its-kind initiative in the state named Niramaya Health Insurance scheme for children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, and others.
5. Rajasthan has approved a proposal for developing Geographic Information System (GIS) based 3D models of Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota and Ajmer for better planning and management of urban development.
6. Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to conduct pilgrimage by air on government expenditure under the Mukhya Mantri Teerth-Darshan Yojana.
7. The sixth Scorpene Submarine of Project-75, Yard 11880, Indian Navy’s Kalvari class, ‘Vaghsheer’ commenced its sea trials.
8. For the first time, Indian Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Force have collaborated to train the Saudi Cadets.
9. For the first time, India’s defence production rose more than 12% in FY23 and crossed Rs 1 trillion ($12 billion) mark.
10. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) have renewed their MoU for five years.
11. Axiom Space has launched Ax-2 mission, the second private astronaut mission, to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule named ‘Freedom’ from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
12. Knight Frank (UK-based real estate consultancy company) has released “The Wealth Report” 2023.
13. ‘Internet in India Report 2022’ has been released by the Internet and Mobile Association of India.
14. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced the CVV (Card Verification Value) free facility for its Rupay debit, credit and prepaid cardholders who have tokenized their cards on the merchant application.
15. RBI has withdrawn the currency notes of Rs 2,000, from circulation, adding that the notes will continue to be legal tender.
16. AirAsia India flight i5-767 became India’s first commercial passenger flight, which used an indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend. was successfully flown on Friday. departed from
17. Aditya Birla Capital, through its lending arm, Aditya Birla Finance, has launched Udyog Plus, an innovative one-stop business platform, for MSME customers.
18. Paytm Money has launched a bonds platform for retail investors in India. The platform will enable retail investors to invest in three types of bonds – government, corporate and tax-free.
19. Tide, the UK’s leading SME-focused business financial platform in partnership with Transcorp International Limited, has launched India’s first recycled PVC Rupay card, along with MCT Cards & Technology Pvt. Ltd. and NPCI.
20. Bajaj Allianz Life has launched India’s first Small-Cap fund in the ULIP segment which will invest in small-cap stocks.
21. SEBI has introduced the risk disclosure framework for individual traders with respect to trading in the equity Futures & Options (F&O) segment to facilitate informed decision making by investors.
22. On May 17, RBI cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 7 NBFCs while 14 NBFCs have surrendered their CoR.
23. SP Singh Baghel has taken charge as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
24. Siddaramaiah (from Indian National Congress) has sworn in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Karnataka.
25. May 15-21 – UN Global Road Safety Week (7th edition); Focus – #RethinkMobility
26. May 20 – World Bee Day; Theme – “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”
27. May 21 – National Anti-Terrorism Day (to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi)
28. May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
29. May 21 – International Tea Day
30. May 22 – International Day for Biological Diversity; Theme – From agreement to action: build back biodiversity
31. March 23 – World Meteorological Day; Theme – The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations
32. Indian athlete Shaili Singh has won a bronze medal at the Golden Grand Prix 2023 athletics meet in the women’s long jump event in Yokohama, Japan.
33. Italian Open 2023-
34. Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has released the ‘Partitioned Freedom’ book, written by Ram Madhav.
35. Renowned British novelist Martin Louis Amis has passed away.

National News

1. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched ‘NEP SAARTHI- Student Ambassador for Academic Reforms in Transforming Higher Education in India’ to involve students in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
   • Three students will be chosen by the all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as their nominations for NEP SAARTHIs.
   • The UGC will select 300 NEP SAARTHIs from among the nominees.
   • Activities to be undertaken by NEP SAARTHIs –
   • Connect with student groups,
   • establish dialogue among students, faculty members, administrators and UGC,
   • prepare brief notes on each NEP initiative for display on campus,
   • plan events, debates, discussions, competitions, quizzes, nukkads, chaupals, initiate social media activities or campaigns and set up NEP help desks at college festivals.

   Source: Indian Express

2. IIT-Madras has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Israel to build an ‘India-Israel Center of Water Technology’ (CoWT) in Water Resources Management and Water Technologies.
   • The Centre aims to build human capacity to ensure the implementation of the best technologies of Israel in a tailor-made context for the Indian requirements and pilot sustainable technologies to ensure water security for the country.
   • MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, will provide assistance to the CoWT for the ‘AMRUT’ Mission for achieving its overall targets.
   • The Centre will work for implementing the sustainable practices of water management.
     Source: Business Standard

State News

1. Telangana has launched the SAHAS initiative for making workplaces safer for women.
   • SAHAS, which means Courage, is a programme that aims at strengthening the support ecosystem for women who face workplace sexual harassment.
   • Under the initiative, the SAHAS Microsite, SAHAS Sathi Chatbot, SAHAS Whatsapp Number, Forum and online support facilities were also launched.
     Source: News on Air
2. Visakhapatnam district launched the first-of-its-kind initiative in the state named Niramaya Health Insurance scheme for children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, and others.
   • The money for the scheme was arranged from Sanjivani Nidhi, funds for which were donated by government employees on New Year’s Day.
   • The district is implementing the scheme with the help of The Ability People Organisation.
   • District collector – Dr A Mallikharjuna
     Source: Times of India
3. Rajasthan has approved a proposal for developing Geographic Information System (GIS) based 3D models of Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota and Ajmer for better planning and management of urban development.
   • Apart from this, a ‘repository’ of satellite imagery of different time periods of Rajasthan will also be established on the Rajdhara platform.
   • Separately, the state has also approved to set up Lavkush Gardens in all the districts of the state, for which Rs 66 crore has been approved.
     Source: ET
4. Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to conduct pilgrimage by air on government expenditure under the Mukhya Mantri Teerth-Darshan Yojana.
   Source: Business Standard

Defence News

1. The sixth Scorpene Submarine of Project-75, Yard 11880, Indian Navy’s Kalvari class, ‘Vaghsheer’ commenced its sea trials.
   • The submarine was launched in April 2022 by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
   • Vagsheer is scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy in early 2024 after the completion of these trials.
   • INS Vagsheer is named after the Sand Fish– a deadly deep-sea predator of the Indian Ocean.

2. For the first time, Indian Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Force have collaborated to train the Saudi Cadets.
   • 55 cadets from the King Fahd Naval Academy, Saudi Arabia arrived this week in Kochi, the headquarters of India’s Southern Naval Command.
     Source: News on Air
3. For the first time, India’s defence production rose more than 12% in FY23 and crossed Rs 1 trillion ($12 billion)
   • India’s defence exports have also increased by 24% to about Rs 160 billion.
   • India majorly exports Dornier-228 aircraft, artillery guns, Brahmos missiles made under a joint venture with Russia, radars, armoured vehicles, rockets and Launchers, ammunition and other equipment.
   • India, the world’s largest arms importer in the past decade, depends on Russia for nearly half of its military supplies.
     Source: ET

Memorandum of Understanding

1. The S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) have renewed their MoU for five years.
   • Purpose – to enhance collaboration between the American and Indian business communities across sectors including health, climate change, economic growth, education and women empowerment
     Source: The Hindu

International News

1. Axiom Space has launched Ax-2 mission, the second private astronaut mission, to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule named ‘Freedom’ from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
   • Four astronauts went to ISS through this mission. The crew included Saudi Arabia’s first astronaut woman, Rayyanah Barnawi and a Saudi man Ali AlQarni. Barnawi has become the first Saudi woman in space.
   • Other crew members were former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson who will serve as commander and John Shoffner, a paying customer who will serve as Ax-2’s pilot.

Source: Space.com

Reports and Indices

1. Knight Frank (UK-based real estate consultancy company) has released “The Wealth Report” 2023.
   • As per the report, the India’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) with net worth over $30 million will rise by over half (58.4%) in the next five years.
   • The high-net-worth-individual (HNI) population, with asset value of $1 million and more, which was recorded at 7.9 lakh persons in 2022 will also rise to 16.5 lakh in the next 5-year period.
     Source: LiveMint
2. ‘Internet in India Report 2022’ has been released by the Internet and Mobile Association of India.
   • Out of 759 million ‘active’ internet users in India for 2022, 399 million are from rural India, while 360 million are from urban India.
   • Approximately, 56% of all new internet users in India will be from rural areas by 2025.
   • Urban India witnessed only 6% growth (in 2022) while the rural India witnessed a 14% growth rate over the past year.
   • Urban India witnesses an approximately 71% internet penetration.
     Source: Economic Times

Banking and Economy

1. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced the CVV (Card Verification Value) free facility for its Rupay debit, credit and prepaid cardholders who have tokenized their cards on the merchant application.
   • Mechanism – Now, the cardholders will not have to fill any card details, if they have saved (tokenized) their card on the e-commerce merchant which supports this feature

2. RBI has withdrawn the currency notes of Rs 2,000, from circulation, adding that the notes will continue to be legal tender.
   • It said the existing Rs 2,000 notes can be deposited or exchanged in banks until September 30, but set a limit of “Rs 20,000 at a time”.
   • The facility for exchange of Rs 2,000 notes, up to the limit of Rs 20,000 at a time, will also be provided at the 19 regional offices of the RBI having issue departments from May 23.
   • At present, Rs 2000 notes are only 10%-11% of the total currency.
   • The Rs 2,000 note was introduced in November 2016 under Section 24(1) of RBI Act, 1934.
     Source: Indian Express
3. AirAsia India flight i5-767 became India’s first commercial passenger flight, which used an indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) was successfully flown on Friday. departed from
   • The flight was routed from Pune to New Delhi.
   • It used a blend of indigenous SAF supplied by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) in partnership with Praj Industries Ltd. (Praj).
   • Earlier this month, Vistara became the first Indian airline to operate a commercial plane i.e., Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
     Source: Times of India and Economic Times
4. Aditya Birla Capital, through its lending arm, Aditya Birla Finance, has launched Udyog Plus, an innovative one-stop business platform, for MSME customers.
   • The platform will provide financing, protection, investments, advisory and value-added services for managing and growing MSME businesses.
     Source: Economic Times
5. Paytm Money has launched a bonds platform for retail investors in India. The platform will enable retail investors to invest in three types of bonds – government, corporate and tax-free.
   Source: Business Standard
6. Tide, the UK’s leading SME-focused business financial platform in partnership with Transcorp International Limited, has launched India’s first recycled PVC Rupay card, along with MCT Cards & Technology Pvt. Ltd. and NPCI.
   • Transcorp is a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulated Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) license holder.
   • The card is named as “Tide rPVC cards”.
     Source: ANI
7. Bajaj Allianz Life has launched India’s first Small-Cap fund in the ULIP segment which will invest in small-cap stocks.
   • This fund will use the Nifty Small Cap 100 index. The New Fund Offer (NFO) period for Bajaj Allianz Life’s Small Cap Fund ends on 23 May, 2023.
     Source: ANI

8. SEBI has introduced the risk disclosure framework for individual traders with respect to trading in the equity Futures & Options (F&O) segment to facilitate informed decision making by investors.
   • The new framework would come into force from July 1, 2023.
   • Under the new framework, all stock brokers will have to display the risk disclosures on their websites and, also inform all their clients in the specified manner.
   • In addition, all Qualified Stock Brokers (QSBs) have been directed to maintain the Profit and Loss (P&L) data of their clients on continuous basis. Such data of the clients need to be retained for at least five years.
     Source: ET
9. On May 17, RBI cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 7 NBFCs while 14 NBFCs have surrendered their CoR.
   • The NBFCs whose registrations were cancelled were Coorg Tea Company, Karnataka; Trimurthi Finvest, Chattisgarh; East West Finvest India, Chattisgarh; J.V.Modi Securities, Madhya Pradesh; K K Patel Finance, Madhya Pradesh; Purvi Finvest, Chattisgarh; and Genfin Capital Pvt Ltd, Karnataka.
   • The RBI, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has cancelled the Certificate of Registration of these NBFCs.
     Source: ET

Appointments

1. SP Singh Baghel has taken charge as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
   Source: ANI
2. Siddaramaiah (from Indian National Congress) has sworn in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Karnataka.
   Source: The Hindu

Important Days

1. May 15-21 – UN Global Road Safety Week (7th edition); Focus – #RethinkMobility
   • This 7th edition focuses on sustainable transport, in particular the need to shift to walking, cycling and using public transport.

2. May 20 – World Bee Day; Theme – “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”
   Source: UN
3. May 21 – National Anti-Terrorism Day (to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi)
   Source: LiveMint
4. May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
   Source: UN
5. May 21 – International Tea Day

6. May 22 – International Day for Biological Diversity; Theme – From agreement to action: build back biodiversity
   Source: UN
7. March 23 – World Meteorological Day; Theme – The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations
   • The day commemorates the coming into force of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950.
     Source: WMO

Sports

1. Indian athlete Shaili Singh has won a bronze medal at the Golden Grand Prix 2023 athletics meet in the women’s long jump event in Yokohama, Japan.
   • Germany’s Maryse Luzolo won the gold medal while Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl bagged the silver medal.
   • Two years back, Shaili Singh had won a silver medal win at the World Athletics UNDER-20 Championships in Nairobi.
     Source: News on Air
2. Italian Open 2023-
   • Men’s Singles – Daniil Medvedev (Russian) defeated Holger Rune
   • It is Medvedev’s first clay-court title.
   • Women’s Singles – Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstani) defeated Anhelina Kalinina
     Source: Google News and Skysports

Miscellaneous

1. Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has released the ‘Partitioned Freedom’ book, written by Ram Madhav.
   Source: ANI
2. Renowned British novelist Martin Louis Amis has passed away.
   • He is best known for his works “Money: A Suicide Note” and “London Fields.”
   • Other famous works of Amis are “Time’s Arrow”, “The Zone of Interest”, “Experience” and “The War Against Cliche.”
     Source: ET

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