Current Affairs 11,12 & 13 May 2024

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 11,12 & 13 May 2024, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2024 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.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

DoT organized ‘Telecom Design Collaboration Sprint’ in BengaluruOn May 9, 2024, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) organized ‘Telecom Design Collaboration Sprint’, first-of-its-kind initiative, at International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore(IIIT-B), Karnataka.

• This collaboration is focused on deep-Tech rapid ideation and innovative solution developing a future-ready telecom stack.

Participants:
It brought together 15 leading startups/Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the Radio Access Network (RAN), Core ecosystems, academia and research institutions including IIT Madras, Centre For Development Of Telematics (C-DOT), IIT Delhi, among others.
Objectives of Sprint:
There are 3 primary objective of sprint:

• Collective Strengths: Startups to utilize expertise in vital 5G infrastructure, fostering innovation and accelerating telecom stack development.
• Holistic Solutions: Collaboration strives for comprehensive 5G solutions, meeting industry needs and anticipating future advancements.
• Market Opportunities: Efforts align to unlock market potential, empowering startups to compete and thrive in telecom.

Key Points:
i.After discussions, Outcome-Based Focus Groups were formed to address Indian telecom ecosystem gaps and prepare for upcoming technologies like 6G (sixth-generation wireless).

• These groups will focus on Core infrastructure, Distribution Units (DUs), Radio Units (RUs), Central Units (CUs), and other elements aimed at bridging current gaps and catering to future needs.

ii.Two additional working groups were also established to facilitate focused efforts.

UAE-India CEPA Council inks MoU with Indian Chamber of Commerce The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance economic and trade relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India.
Aim:
To promote awareness of the UAE-India bilateral economic partnership and the benefits of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
Key Points:
i.UICC and ICC establish comprehensive collaboration focusing on public promotion, awareness increase, and mobilizing private sector stakeholders for economic engagement between nations.

• This will include Dialogue, information sharing, and joint events to facilitate member interactions and promote organizational roles.

ii.It will boost trade volumes, extend benefits of favorable trade policies to enterprises, and create economic growth opportunities between India and the UAE.
iii.The UICC was established in 2024.

• Under this, the Bilateral trade surged by nearly 16% to USD 84.5 billion over the fiscal year from April 2022 to March 2023. Sectors like gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, and fruits and vegetables also witnessed significant growth.

About Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC):
Director General– Dr Rajeev Singh
Headquarters– Kolkata, west Bengal
Establishment– 1925

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Belize, Jamaica, St. Vincent and Grenadines Received WHO Certification for Eliminating Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and SyphilisOn 7th May 2024, The World Health Organisation (WHO) granted certification to 3 countries in the Americas i.e. Belize, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Syphilis.

• The official ceremony took place in Kingston, Jamaica. It was organised by Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS).

Criteria for Certification:
i.Countries which have brought the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate to under 5%.
ii.Countries which provided antenatal care and antiretroviral treatment to more than 90% of pregnant women.
iii.Countries which reported fewer than 50 new cases of congenital syphilis per 100, 000 newborns.
iv.Countries which achieved a HIV rate of fewer than 500 per 100, 000 live births.
PAHO Elimination Initiative:
i.Member states of Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) approved Disease Elimination initiative in 2019.
ii.It aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases including the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis in the Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.
Key Facts:
i.Cuba was the 1st country in the world to receive WHO certification for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis in 2015.
ii.Till date, 19 countries and territories have been certified for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis, with 11 of them are Caribbean countries.

• Some of these countries are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands etc. Botswana has become the first high-burden country to be certified by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV in 2021.

Progress in Caribbean Countries:
i.New HIV infections among children in the Caribbean countries decreased by 25% (between 2010 and 2022).
ii.Between 2010 and 2022, annual notified cases declined from 2000 to 1500.
iii.English-speaking Caribbean countries reported 36 cases of congenital syphilis per 100, 000 newborns.
About Pan American and Health Organisation (PAHO):
Director: Jarbas Barbosa
Headquarters: Washington D.C., United States of America (U.S.A.)
Member states: 35 member states and 4 associate members in the Americas
Formation: 1902

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Lifts Restrictions on Bank of Baroda’s mobile app “BoB World”; Allows Onboarding CustomersThe Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has lifted restrictions on Bank of Baroda(BoB)’s mobile application “BoB World” with immediate effect. This allows BoB to onboard customers through BoB World application in accordance with the applicable guidelines and extant laws /regulations.
Background:
In October 2023, RBI in exercise of its power given under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, ordered BoB to immediately suspend the process of adding customers through its “BoB World” mobile application based on certain supervisory concerns.
About BoB World App:
i.The BoB had launched the pilot for mobile banking application in 2011 under the name of Baroda M-Connect.
ii.In September 2021, BoB launched its state-of-the-art, feature rich mobile banking application “BoB World”
iii.The app offers more than 220 services which cover around 90% of all retail banking services.
iv.It enables digital account opening with instant virtual debit card issuance, online loan applications with instantaneous disbursal for selected loan products.
About Bank of Baroda (BOB):
MD & CEO- Debadatta Chand
Headquarter- Vadodara, Gujarat
Established in 1908
Tagline- “India’s International Bank”

SEBI Gives Approval To CARE Ratings’ Subsidiary to Offer ESG Ratings
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given approval to CARE ESG Ratings Limited (CareEdge-ESG – formerly known as CARE Advisory Research & Training Limited), a wholly owned subsidiary of CARE Ratings Limited, to function as a Category I Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Ratings Provider (ERP).

• CareEdge-ESG received the registration under the SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 on 2nd May 2024.
• The ratings will enable the issuers to discern steps for the betterment of their sustainability performance.

Note:
i.In 2023, SEBI notified the amendment in the SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 to include provisions on ESG Ratings Providers.
ii.Previously in April 2024, SEBI gave approval to Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA)’s subsidiary Pragati Development Consulting Services Limited (PDCSL) to provide ESG ratings.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Russian President Vladimir Putin Proposes Reappointment of Mikhail Mishustin as PMOn 10th May 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed the reappointment of Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin(58) as Prime Minister (PM) of Russia. He proposed his name for State Duma, lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia.

• However, Mishustin’s name approval is a mere formality in the Kremlin-controlled Parliament.
• Mishustin who held the post of Russia’s PM for last 4 years, submitted his resignation to the Cabinet on 7th May 2024, when Vladimir Putin officially sworn-in as President of Russia for the 5th term during a ceremony held at Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia.

About Mikhail Mishustin :
i.Mishustin was appointed as PM of Russia for the 1st time in January 2020 by Russian President Putin. He replaced then-PM Dmitry Medvedev, who resigned from his post.

• His 1st tenure as PM of Russia faced many challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine War.

ii.He is a Chief technocrat who has helped Putin through the war in Ukraine and to tackle the challenges posed by Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion in Ukraine.
iii.He has served as the head of Federal Taxation Service of Russia from 2010-2020.
iv.He was appointed as the head of new Coordination Council in 2022.
v.He was bestowed with Order of Honour in 2012 and the Order For Service to the Fatherland, 4th class in 2015 by Russian Government.
About Russia:
Capital: Moscow
President: Vladimir Putin
Currency: Russian Ruble

Rizwan Koita Replaces Mahesh Verma as Chairperson of NABHRizwan Koita, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Director of the Koita Foundation (KF) has been appointed Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH).

• He replaced Padma Shri Dr. Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (IPU) in Delhi, who assumed the role of Chairperson NABH in 2022.

Note: NABH, a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), sets benchmarks for quality and accredits healthcare organizations.
About Rizwan Koita:
i.Rizwan Koita started his career as a senior consultant with McKinsey & Co., advising corporations on business strategy and operations.
ii.In 1999, he co-founded TransWorks (now Concentrix), one of India’s 1st Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms.

• Transworks was acquired by the Aditya Birla Group in 2003, becoming one of the first successful business exits in the Indian BPO industry.

iii.He co-founded CitiusTech and served as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from 2005 to October 2021.

• In 2019, CitiusTech became India’s 1st healthcare technology Unicorn.

iv.Rizwan Koita has been a Board member of NABH over the past 2 years and is actively involved with the Digital Health initiatives at NABH.
About National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH):
CEO-Dr. Atul Mohan Kochhar
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established in– 2005
NABH, as an organisation, has been accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (lSQua) and it is also its Institutional Member.
NABH is on the board of the Asian Society for Quality in Healthcare (ASQua).

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Piramal Enterprises Approves To Merge with Unlisted Housing Finance Arm for Listing Norms
The board of directors of  Piramal Enterprises Limited, a Non-banking finance company (NBFC), has approved its merger with its wholly owned subsidiary, Piramal Capital & Housing Finance (PCHFL).
Following the merger, PCHFL will be renamed as Piramal Finance Limited (PFL).

• Under the terms of the merger, shareholders of Piramal Enterprises will receive one equity share of PFL for each share they hold in Piramal Enterprises along with one NCRPS (non-convertible non-cumulative non-participating redeemable preference share) of Rs 67 of PFL, subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The merger process is effective from 1 April 2024, expected to be finalised within 9-12 months.
• Piramal Capital is an upper layer NBFC and is mandated to list by September 2025.

Note: Piramal Capital is a housing finance company (HFC). It is required to comply with the Principal Business Criteria (PBC) of minimum 60% of loans to housing finance and minimum 50% of loans to individuals for housing finance.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Kadet Defence Systems Introduced India’s 1st Loitering Aerial Munitions for Armed ForcesKadet Defence Systems(P) Limited (KDS) has introduced India’s 1st pioneering Loitering Aerial Munitions (LAM) for the Indian Armed Forces. It was developed under a unique Development cum Production Partner(DCPP) model with the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).

• The indigenous LAMs are designed and manufactured entirely in India. Over 90% of components of LAM are domestically sourced.

Note: This reflects KDS commitment to foster indigenous innovation and self-reliance in defence production.
About India’s 1st LAM:
i.LAM system encompasses cutting-edge technologies such as: Canister Aerial Loitering Munition (CALM), Combat Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs) with stand-off capabilities and Tactical Vertical Takeoff & Landing (VTOL) UAVs.
ii.LAMs boast adaptability to various terrains and altitudes (From deserts to plains, and even high-altitude regions surpassing 5000 meters).
iii.Capabilities: KDS’s LAMs can serve as both combat UAVs capable of precision strikes and Kamikaze drones for targeted engagements, reminiscent of cruise missiles.
Additional info:
i.KDS has secured a contract to deliver 50 LAM systems by the end of 2024 meeting the operational requirements of the Indian armed forces.
ii.KDS aims to increase LAMs production and deliver an estimated 5000 systems in next 2 to 3 years.
About Kadet Defence Systems (P) Limited:
KDS is a private company that manufactures aerospace products focused primarily on Unmanned Systems.
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Avdesh Khaitan
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established in 2011

Astronomers Detect Rocky Planet “55 Cancri e” with AtmosphereAstronomers using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected atmospheric gases surrounding 55 Cancri e, also known as Janssen, a hot rocky exoplanet 41 light-years from Earth.
This is one of the 5 known planets orbiting the 55 Cancri, Sun-like star in the constellation Cancer.

• This discovery marks the first time an atmosphere has been identified surrounding a terrestrial planet outside our Solar System.
• The planet is classified as a super-Earth: larger than Earth, smaller than Neptune, and likely similar in composition to the rocky planets in our solar system.

Note: The research results are published in the scientific journal “Nature” titled – “A secondary atmosphere on the rocky Exoplanet 55 Cancri e”
About 55 Cancri e:
i.Dimensions: Radius: 1.95 × Earth; Mass: 8.8 × Earth
ii.The planet orbits its star at a distance of only 1.4 million miles (0.015 astronomical units), and completes one full orbit in less than 18 hours.
iii.The Infrared observation of JWST indicated the presence of substantial atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, and sulfur dioxide, although exact quantities remain uncertain.
iv.The planet enveloped in probable magma ocean is inhospitable to life. The findings about the planet will offer insights into the early geological stages of rocky planets like Earth.

IN-SPACe Signed MoU with GalaxEye For Testing Facilities
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GalaxEye Space, which grants GalaxEye access to world-class laboratories and testing facilities operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

• GalaxEye has become the first Indian company to benefit from IN-SPACe’s top-tier co-working and testing space as a partner in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• GalaxEye is presently working on India’s first private constellation of Earth observation satellites ‘Drishti Mission’ (multi-sensor imaging satellite).

Note:
i.IN-SPACe, an autonomous agency under the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India (GoI).
ii.GalaxEye Space is a Bengaluru, Karnataka based space startup specializing in Earth observation satellites.

ENVIRONMENT

Ablennes joseberchmansis & Ablennes gracalii: ICAR-CMFRI Kochi Identifies 2 New Needlefish Species from Indian WatersResearchers at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi (Kerala) have identified 2 new species of needlefish named “Ablennes joseberchmansis” and “Ablennes gracalii” from Indian waters.

• The findings of the new species were published in the Journal of Regional Studies in Marine Science.
• The research was carried out by Toji Thomas, a research scholar at CMFRI, under the guidance of Dr EM Abdussamad, principal scientist and Head-in-charge of the Pelagic Fisheries Division at CMFRI.

Note: The ICAR-CMFRI is a research institute that monitors and assesses marine fisheries resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Naming:
i.Ablennes joseberchmansis is named after Toji Thomas’s Alma mater -St. Berchamn’s College (Kerala) and his teacher.
ii.Ablennes gracalii has been named after Toji Thomas’ mother Grace and his friend Alina.
Research Insights:
i.The needlefish genus Ablennes remains monotypic, characterized by the globally distributed flat needlefish known as Ablennes hians(A. hians)
ii.Using the integrated taxonomic methods based on mitochondrial molecular markers, researchers found that the species initially perceived as a single entity is a complex of at least 3 different species.
iii.Genetic and molecular analysis, alongside taxonomic examination, confirmed that these newly identified species have unique characteristics.

• The researchers have scientifically described and added the 2 new species to the Indian marine biodiversity.

Characteristics and Habitat:
i.The study focused on the specimens collected from Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
ii.These commercially valuable fishes are known for their palatability and nutritional value.
iii.These fishes identified by their green spines and elongated beaks with sharp teeth.
iv.These fish species are found abundantly along the Indian coast and are pelagic resources available in upper waters (0-20 meters).
Glyptothorax punyabratai: ICAR-NBFGR Discovers New Catfish Species in Arunachal Pradesh
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), the apex institute for fish genetic resources in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, discovered a new catfish species named Glyptothorax punyabratai from the Brahmaputra River drainage in Arunachal Pradesh.

• The species was collected from the Tung Stream, a small tributary of the Tissa River, in the Brahmaputra River basin.
• The species is named after Dr. Punyabarata Das, the founding director of ICAR-NBFGR, to commemorate his substantial contributions to fisheries research.

Note: Glyptothorax is a catfish genus in the order Siluriformes and family Sisoridae.
Discovery Details:
i.Specimens: Holotype and paratype specimens of the new species are archived at the National Fish Museum-cum-Repository of the ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow.
ii.The discovery of the species was published in the renowned peer-reviewed journal Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters.

SPORTS

Mumbai City Beats Mohun Bagan 3-1 to Win the Indian Super League 2023-24 Final 
Mumbai City Football Club (MCFC) beat Mohun Bagan SuperGiants (MBSG) 3-1 to win the 10th edition of the  Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata, West Bengal(WB).

• This is the second ISL title for Mumbai City Football Club, it previously won the 2020-21 season against Atlético de Kolkata Mohun Bagan.
• A total of 12 clubs participated in the Indian Super League 2023-24.
• ISL 2023-24 awards:

i.ISL Player of the League: Dimitrios Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)
ii.Golden Glove: Phurba Lachenpa (MCFC)
iii.Golden Boot: Dimitrios Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC)
iv.Emerging Player of the League: Vikram Partap Singh (MCFC)
v.Golden Ball: Dimitrios Petratos (MBSG)
vi.Best Pitch: Jamshedpur FC
vii.Grassroots Award: FC Goa
viii.Best Elite Youth Program:Bengaluru FC
ix.Mohun Bagan Super Giants beat Mumbai City FC  to clinch its maiden Indian Super League (ISL) Winners Shield at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Note: The prize money for the winner(MCFC) is Rs 6 crore and Rs 3 crore for runner (MBSG).

OBITUARY

Fomer Bureaucrat & Padma Bhushan Awardee Moosa Raza Passed AwayPadma Bhushan Awardee Moosa Raza, who served as Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) from 1988 to 1990, passed away at the age of 87 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN). He was born on 27th February 1937 in Villupuram district in TN.

• He was honoured with Padma Bhushan for Civil service in 2010.

About Moosa Raza:
i.Moosa Raza was an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1960 batch of Gujarat cadre.
ii.He served as Collector and District Magistrate in various districts of Gujarat.
iii.He has also served as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat and Advisor to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh (UP)
After his retirement in 1995, he took over as the director general of the grand project of India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC).
iv.He has also served as a member of the National Integration Council of India after retirement.
v.Since 2000, He has been serving as the Chairman of the South Indian Educational Trust (S.I.E.T.), which runs six educational institutions.
Notable works:
i.He penned his autobiography titled “Of Giants and Windmills: An Autobiography” in 2023.
ii.His other noted works includes, “Of Nawabs & Nightingales, In Search of Oneness”(1995); “The Smile on Sorrow’s Lips”(2015); and “Kashmir: Land of Regrets” (2019)

IMPORTANT DAYS

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War – 8-9 May 2024The United Nations (UN) annually marks the 8th and 9th of May as the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, to pay tribute to all victims of the Second World War (WWII) (from 1939 to 1945).

• The day was designated to pay tribute to the deaths of 40 million civilians and 20 million soldiers by promoting reconciliation.

2024 marks the 79th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Background:
i.On 22 November 2004, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/59/26* declaring 8–9 May as a Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War.
ii.The UNGA invited all Member States, UN system organisations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals to observe annually either one or both of these days to pay tribute to all victims of WWII.
iii.In August 1945, the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in Japan which ended World War II.
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International Day of Argania 2024 – May 10 The United Nations (UN) International Day of Argania is annually observed across the globe on 10 May to create awareness and promote the major role of the Argan tree (Argania spinosa), a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, which grows in arid and semiarid areas.

• 10 May 2024 marks the observance of the 4th International Day of Argania.
• The 2024 theme of International Day of Argania is, “The Argan Tree facing the challenges of climate change.”

Background:
i.In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/75/262 and proclaimed the 10 May of every year as the International Day of Argania.
ii.The resolution, submitted by Morocco, was co-sponsored by 113 UN member states and adopted by consensus.
iii.The 1st ever International Day of Argania was observed on 10th May 2021.
>> Read Full News

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