Current Affairs 11 May 2022

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 11 May 2022, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2022 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

Our Current Affairs January 2022 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2022 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name –  Learn Current Affairs – Free Course – Click Here to Download the APP
We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs 10 May 2022

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Death rate in India increased by 6.2% in 2020: CRS 2020 ReportThe Office of the Registrar General under the Ministry Of Home Affairs (MHA) has released its annual report namely ‘Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System (CRS) 2020′ which presents a compilation of data on registered births, deaths, infant deaths and still births with rural-urban & sex-wise break-up and sex ratio at birth based on around 3 lakh Civil Registration Records across India.

• As per it, the number of registered births has decreased from 2.48 crore in 2019 to 2.42 crore in the year 2020 showing a decrease of about 2.40%.
• While in case of registered deaths, the number has increased from 76.4 lakh in 2019 to 81.2 lakhs in 2020 showing an increase of 6.2%.
• The report provides information of events pertaining to the time period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020.These figures include deaths due to COVID-19 and other reasons.

Key Points:
i.Out of the total registered deaths, the share of males is 60.2% and the female share is 39.8%. 
ii.The states and Union Territories (UTs) that contributed significantly to the increased number of deaths registered from 2019 to 2020 are  Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, West Bengal (WB), Andhra Pradesh (AP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, Assam, and Haryana.

• Bihar saw the maximum increase in the death rate with 18.3% (3,59,349 deaths in 2019 which increased to 4,25,047 in 2020) followed by Maharashtra with 16.6% (6,93,800 in 2019 and 8,08,783 in 2020) and Assam with 14.7% (1,63,057 in 2019 to 1,87,085 in 2020).
• Meanwhile, states like Manipur, Chandigarh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh (AR) and Kerala saw a decrease in death rates in 2020 with respect to 2019.

iii.In case of birth rate Lakshadweep, Bihar, Haryana, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan recorded an increase.

• Lakshadweep recorded the maximum change in the birth rate of 14.3% (947 in 2019 to 1082 in 2020) followed by Haryana with 11.7% (5,29,992 in 2019 to 591914 in 2020) and Bihar with 8.4% (28,09,167 in 2019 to 30,44,931 in 2020).
• States like Nagaland, Puducherry, Telangana, Manipur, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Mizoram, and Chandigarh recorded a decrease in the registered birth rate.

iv.CRS is a universal, continuous, compulsory, and permanent recording of birth, death, and still birth. 
Registration of birth and death is done under Registration of Birth and Death Act (RBD), 1969.

Green Health Alliance Launched by Catalyst Group Along with USAID & Office of the PSA

The Catalyst Group, a social enterprise platform, has announced the establishment of the Green Health Alliance (GHA) in New Delhi (Delhi), in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India (GoI), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Rockefeller Foundation.
The Alliance will work on identifying and scaling up solutions to help reduce the health system’s carbon footprint and so mitigate the negative health effects of climate change.
Key Points:
i.The Green Health Alliance will integrate private and public sector expertise to build strong and resilient health ecosystems through affirmative climate action as an action-oriented community of diverse stakeholders such as Swasti, Vrutti, Fuzhio, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), The Skoll Foundation, and others.
ii.GHA’s goals include identifying and scaling proven climate-neutral solutions across the health ecosystem, as well as creating a credible platform to convene, ideate, and scale new solutions at the intersection of health and climate impact.
iii. To further scale up the partnership effort, the Office of the PSA’s Strategic Alliances Division- ‘Innovation and Science @Bharat’ is establishing a cooperation platform called ‘Manthan,’ centred on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Note: The Rockefeller Foundation is a Non-profit Organization based in New York, United States (US).
About Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the GoI:
PSA to the GoI – Ajay Kumar Sood
Established – November 1999
About United States Agency for International Development (USAID):
USAID is the premier United States (US) government organisation that serves as the world’s leading international development agency and a catalyst for development outcomes.
Establishment – 1961
Headquarters – Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.), US.

WEF & NITI Aayog to Focus on Emerging Tech to Benefit Small & Marginal Farmers

The World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with India’s think tank National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, is focusing on better utilising emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and drones to benefit small and marginal farmers and boost their economies.
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, India (C4IR) of the WEF:
On January 23, 2018, the World Economic Forum announced the establishment of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in India at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
To enhance the economy of small farmers, the WEF states three buckets of challenges” three categories of problems
i.Inclusivity: Because small-scale farmers lack credit history and women farmers lack land holdings, both are limited in their access to credit and are obliged to borrow at higher rates than banks offer.
About the World Economic Forum (WEF):
The WEF is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.
Founder & Executive Chairman – Klaus Schwab 
Establishment – 1971
Headquarters – Cologny, Geneva, Switzerland
>> Read Full News

MoU Between C-Dot And Indian Railway To Supply Local Gear Worth Rs. 2,100 CroresC-DOT (Centre for Development of Telemactics) and Ministry of Railways signed an MoU to provide locally and indigenously affordable telecom equipment and services for various railways operations which public safety and security applications by lowering the total cost of ownership. 

• Under this agreement ,C-DoT will provide Rs.2100 crores worth financial support to Indian Railways.
• This agreement also boost the Make in India initiative of the government and help in bridging the digital divide in the country.

Utility of the MOU
i.This MoU would help to replace the foreign gears in Indian Railway operations by locally available indegenous technologies.
ii.The partnership fostered by this MoU would not only reduce the dependency of Railways on foreign technologies but also mitigate security risks. 
iii. The MoU would foster synergy for modernising Indian Railway’s communication apparatus with indegenous solution; thereby bolsters the foundation of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
iv.This agreement also helps the C-DOT to make indigenous solutions in LTE (Long Term Evolution) which is used for rolling out services of proposed 4G network for Indian Railways for high-speed mobile communication.
About Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
C-DOT is an autonomous Telecom Research & Development(R&D) centre of the Department of Telecommunications(DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India
Established- 1984
Chairman- Minister of Communications and Electronics & Information Technology (Ashwini Vaishnaw)

PM Modi Virtually Addressed the JITO Connect 2022, a Global Summit in Pune

Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, virtually addressed the inaugural ceremony of “JITO Connect 2022” a global summit organised by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) in Pune, Maharashtra.
JITO Connect 2022, a 3-day Summit held from 6th to 8th May 2022, is one of the World’s Largest and Coveted global summits.
The theme of the summit was “Together Towards Tomorrow”.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Vietnam Opens World’s Longest Glass Bottom BridgeThe World’s Longest Glass Bottom Bridge was opened in Moc Chau district of the country’s Son La province, Vietnam. It is called as Vietnam’s Bach Long pedestrian bridge, which is 632m (2,073ft) long and located 150m (492ft) above a huge jungle.

• It surpasses a 526m Glass Bottom Bridge in Guangdong, China.

About the Glass Bridge in Vietnam
i.The Bach Long pedestrian bridge which means ‘white dragon’ in Vietnamese.
ii.The bridge suspends above the rainforest.
iii. The bridge can support up to 450 people at a time and the floor of the bridge’s floor is made of three layers of French-produced tempered glass, each about 1.5 inches thick.
About Vietnam
Capital City – Hanoi
Currency – Vietnamese dong
Prime Minister – Phạm Minh Chính

BANKING & FINANCE

LIC IPO subscribed 2.9 times; Govt to raise ∼Rs 21,000cr

i.An initial public offering (IPO) of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), India’s biggest public offer, was subscribed 2.95 times on the last day of offer period i.e. on May 9, 2022. This will help the government to raise about Rs 21,000 crore. 
ii.Notably, against 16,20,78,067 shares on offer, 47,83,25,760 bids were received.
iii.With this IPO, the government has diluted its 3.5% stake in LIC through the Offer for Sale (OFS).
About Life Insurance Corporation (LIC):
Chairperson– Mangalam Ramasubramanian Kumar
Managing Directors– Raj Kumar, Siddhartha Mohanty, Ipe Mini, Bishnu Charan Patnaik
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
>> Read Full News

HDFC Bank Launches Industry First Digital New Car Loan – ‘Xpress Car Loan’

HDFC Bank, a private sector lender, has introduced 30-minute ‘Xpress Car Loans’, an end-to-end digital new car loan solution for both existing and non customers. The bank has integrated its lending application with automobile dealers throughout India.
It is the industry’s first automotive lending experience, and it is expected to change the way automobile financing is done in India.
Key Points:
i.The facility will be offered at all of the bank’s branches, dealerships, and, eventually, on third-party aggregator platforms.
ii.This comprehensive, faster, more convenient, and inclusive digital journey for car buyers will simplify the automobile purchase process and boost car sales across India, particularly in semi-urban and rural locations.
iii. As it has integrated its lending application with vehicle dealers across India, it anticipates 20%–30% of clients to use this loan facility of up to Rs. 20 lakhs
iv.Currently, the facility is only available for four-wheelers, and it will be gradually extended to include two-wheeler loans.
Note: In the next 5-7 years, India’s automotive sector is expected to grow to 35 million new car units per year, making it the world’s third largest. This is expected to result in over 350 million 4-wheelers and over 250 million 2-wheelers on the road within 10 years.
About HDFC Bank Ltd:
MD & CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Establishment – 1994
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline – We Understand Your World

UPI hits record 5.58 Bn transactions worth Rs 9.83 trillion in April 2022

According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s flagship digital payments platform, has recorded 5.58 billion(bn) transactions worth Rs 9.83 trillion in April 2022. This is the highest ever number of transactions recorded by UPI. 

• The monthly UPI recorded a 3.33 % increase in transaction volume from 5.4 billion transactions worth Rs 9.6 trillion in March 2022. 
• Compared to April 2021, the transaction volume increased by 111% and the transaction value increased by nearly 100%. In April 2021, UPI processed 2.64 billion transactions worth Rs 4.93 trillion. 
• The UPI had breached the USD 1 trillion mark in transaction values in the financial year 2021-22. 

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS   

2022 Pulitzer Prizes; Indians Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, Amit Dave, & Late Danish Siddiqui of Reuters awarded in Journalism

On 9th May 2022, the winners of the 2022 Pulitzer Prizes (106th class of Pulitzer Prize winners) in Journalism; Books, Drama and Music; and Special Citations were announced. Four Indians – Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, Amit Dave, and the late Danish Siddiqui of Reuters were awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism under the Feature Photography category.  
They were awarded for their images of the COVID-19 toll on India.
2022 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism: 
The Washington Post has won the 2022 Pulitzer prize in Journalism under the Public Service category for its account of the assault on Washington on 6th January 2021. 
Note: 
The Pulitzer Prize, administered by Columbia University in New York, United States of America(USA), is considered the most prestigious prize in US journalism which recognise the work in 15 journalism categories; seven arts categories and one special citation.
Prize: Only the winner in the Public Service category of the Journalism competition is awarded a gold medal other winners receive a USD 15,000 cash award and a certificate. 
>> Read Full News

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS    

Mindtree and L&T Infotech to Amalgamate to form ‘LTIMindtree’

The Boards of Directors of Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) and Mindtree approved the amalgamation of both these independently listed IT (Information Technology) services companies under the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Group. 

• The newly formed entity will be called ‘LTIMindtree’, and will be led by Debashis Chatterjee, Current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Mindtree.

Key Points:
i.Shareholders of Mindtree will receive 73 shares of LTI in exchange for Mindtree’s 100 shares.

• The new shares of LTI so issued will be traded on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

ii.After merger, LTI promoters will have a 43.9% while Mindtree promoters will have a 24.8% stake in the combined entity, while L&T Limited will hold 68.73 % of LTI.
iii.As on FY22, the combined entity has revenues of US$3.5 billion (bn).
iv.For the completion of merger process, a Steering Committee will be constituted to oversee the transition.    

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Bengaluru-Based Bellatrix Aerospace Tests Green Satellite Propulsion

Bengaluru-based Bellatrix Aerospace has tested India’s first high-performance green propulsion system for satellites that cuts a new path from the hydrazine-dependent fuel systems and offers a potential 20% jump in fuel efficiency for space satellites.
Conventional Propulsion System
i.Uses poisonous substance hydrazine (N₂H₄) which has a negative influence on the environment.
ii.all rocket fuels can be dangerous to handle without proper safety precautions.
New Green Propulsion
i.This green propellant has significantly reduced toxicity compared to hydrazine, making it safer to store and handle.
ii.Creates new fuel which is eco-friendly and which is also a non-hydrazine based fuel.
About Bellatrix Aerospace
i.One of a slew of new-age space technology businesses in India that have raised venture funding to go to new heights in the worldwide competition for better space programs.
ii.Part of a crop that includes Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Skyroot Aerospace, and others, all of which are attracting investor attention in the field’s early stages.

LS Speaker Om Birla launches One of its Kind ‘Kalam Website’ to Encourage Vernacular Literature

On May 8, 2022, Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker Om Birla launched the one-of-its-kind literary initiative, Kalam website, of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) to support and encourage vernacular literature.
About Kalam Initiative:
i.Initiated in 2015 in the cities of Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Patna (Bihar) and has conducted over 550 sessions spread over 40 cities in India and overseas since then. Its aim is to:

• To popularize Hindi literature
• To provide a platform for veteran and young authors, and poets to talk about their writings and love for vernacular literature.

ii.This initiative is on the lines of the philosophy ‘Unity in Diversity’. Its sessions are insightful, inspiring, enriching, and enjoyable.
iii.The hallmarks of Kalam, one of the prized literary verticals of Prabha Khaitan Foundation have a nationwide reach, global identity, and a niche audience.
About Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF):
It is a non-profit trust founded by the Late Dr. Prabha Khaitan in the early 1980s.Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, it is dedicated to promoting performing arts, culture, education, literature, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

• Its tagline is ‘Aapne Bhasha Aapne Log’.

OBITUARY

Legendary Santoor Player & Padma Awardee Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma Passed Away

Legendary musician and santoor player and Padma Awardee Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma has passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on 13th January 1938 in Jammu, British India (now Jammu & Kashmir(J&K)). 
About Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma:
i.Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma is well known for his efforts in shifting the Santoor, a traditional instrument of Jammu & Kashmir, from an accompaniment and ensemble role in the Sufi music to a solo role in the Hindustani classical music.
ii.He also played music for several films, including Silsila (1981) and Chandni (1989). 
iii.In 1967, he collaborated with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra and produced the concept album “Call of the Valley”. 
Autobiography: Journey with a Hundred Strings: My Life in Music (2002).
Awards:
i.He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986. 
ii.The government of India has honoured him with Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 2001, for his contribution in the field of Arts. 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

VP Venkaiah Naidu Released Book Titled “The Struggle for Police Reforms in India” by Ex-IPS Prakash Singh

Vice President (VP) of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, released a book titled “The Struggle for Police Reforms in India: Ruler’s Police to People’s Police” authored by a former IPS officer, Prakash Singh in New Delhi, Delhi. 
The book is published by Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd.
About the book: 
i.This book documents the efforts made to bring about police reforms in India. 
ii.The book provides the historical background to the origin of the Indian Police and traces the evolution during British Rule and subsequently since independence. 
iii.The book focuses on the efforts of Prakash Singh to bring transformational changes in the Indian Police. 
Police reforms in India: 
i.In 1996, Prakash Singh filed Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court for reforming the police. 
ii.In 2006, he got a favourable judgement from the Supreme Court, mandating country-wide police reform and issuing seven crucial directives to immediately start the implementation process. 
About Prakash Singh: 
i.Prakash Singh, a 1959 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is the Chairman of the Indian Police Foundation(IPF). 
ii.Prakash Singh has served as the Police Chief of 2 of the largest states of India: Uttar Pradesh and Assam, and also Director General of India’s Border Security Force (BSF). 
iii.He was a Member of the National Security Advisory Board (2013-14) and He is also an Associate Fellow of the Joint Special Operations University (US).
iv.Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 1991 for Civil Service. 
He has authored around 6 books and about 300 articles for the national dailies.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Argania 2022 – 10 May

The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Argania is annually observed on 10th May to create awareness about the importance of Argan Tree (Argania spinosa), the native species of Morocco, in achieving the 3 dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) at the local level.
10th May 2022 Marks the observance of the 2nd International Day of Argania. 

• The theme of International Day of Argania 2022 is “The argan tree, Symbol of Resilience”.

Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/262 on 3rd March 2021 and proclaimed the 10th May of every year as the International Day of Argania. 
ii.The resolution, submitted by Morocco and co-sponsored by 113 member states of the UN, was adopted by consensus.
iii.The first ever International Day of Argania was observed on 10th May 2021. 
>> Read Full News

World Portuguese Language Day 2022 – May 5

World Portuguese Language Day is annually observed across the globe on 5th May to create awareness about the role of the Portuguese language in the preservation and dissemination of human civilisation and culture. 
i.Since 2005, Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) member states celebrate the 5th May as the day of the Portuguese language and Lusophone culture.
ii.In 2019, the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference adopted the resolution 40 C/75 and decided to proclaim 5 May of each year as “World Portuguese Language Day”.
iii.The first UNESCO/UN-recognised World Portuguese Language Day was observed on 5th May 2020. 
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General- Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
>> Read Full News

World Password Day 2022 – May 5

World Password Day is annually observed across the globe on the first Thursday of May to emphasis about the role strong passwords that secures all of our digital lives. The World Password Day 2022 falls on 5th May 2022. This also marks the observance of the 8th World Password Day. 

• The World Password Day 2021 was observed on 6th May 2021 and the World Password Day 2023 will be observed on 4th May 2023. 
• World Password Day was initiated by Mark Burnet, a security researcher, who encouraged people to have a specific day as “Password Day”. 
• Later in 2013, Intel created and declared a day dedicated to password security, known as World Password Day.

STATE NEWS

Azure Power Commissioned Assam’s Largest Solar Power Project With 90 MW Capacity 

Azure Power has successfully commissioned its 90 MW solar power project in Assam, the largest in the state. The 90 megawatts (MW) capacity is spread across four districts of Assam: Udalguri, Kamrup, Nagaon, and Cachar.

• The project was commissioned in phases, with the final 25 MW commissioned in Cachar.
• The power generated by the plant is being supplied to Assam Power Distribution Company Limited under a long term 25-year PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) at a tariff of Rs 3.34 per kilowatt-hour (KWh).
• The government of Assam aims to make Assam into a sustainably developed state by 2030. 

*******

List of Less Important News – Click Here

*****Click Here View – AC Excluded News*****

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)