Current Affairs 24 May 2023

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MoPSW Sarbananda Sonowal announces ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ during Chintan Shivir in Keralai.On May 22, 2023, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) made five major announcements collectively named as ‘Panch Karma Sankalp‘ focusing green shipping and digitization of the ports during the culmination of MoPSW’s second Chintan Shivir held in Munnar, Kerala.
ii.These initiatives are poised to make India a global leader in the maritime sector.
iii.MoPSW to provide 30% financial support for the promotion of Green Shipping
iv.Jawaharlal Nehru Port(Mumbai, Maharashtra), VO Chidambaranar Port(Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu), Paradip Port(Jagatsinghpur, Odisha) and Deendayal Port(Kandla, Gujarat) will procure two tugs each Under the Green Tug Transition Programme(GTTP).
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister– Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency- Majuli, Assam)
Minister of State (MoS)– Shripad Yesso Naik (Constituency- North Goa, Goa),
Shantanu Thakur Constituency- Bangaon, West Bengal)
>> Read Full News

UKMRC unveils Rapid Transit Systems; Dehradun gets India’s 1st Neo Metro & Hardiwar gets Pod TaxiOn May 19, 2023, the Uttarakhand Metro Rail Corporation (UKMRC) unveiled the plans for the construction of the state-of-the-art rapid transit systems in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rishikesh within next four years (by 2027) to overcome the traffic congestion in Uttarakhand.
Jitendra Tyagi MD of UKMRC announced that India’s first Neo Metro will be implemented on 2 corridors in Dehradun, India’s 1st Provide on Demand (Pod) taxi will be introduced in Haridwar and two ropeways in Haridwar and Rishikesh.

• Objective: To enhance connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in the respective regions.
• State-of-the-art rapid transit systems will provide a significant boost to eco-friendly and cost-effective public transportation options in the state.

The Modern Transportations:
a.Neo Metro:
i.Neo Metro is the rubber tyre-based mass transit system that draws power from an overhead electric conductor and it runs on a dedicated elevated track.
ii.The Neo Metro project would be implemented on two corridors in Dehradun.
iii.The two corridors, spanning a total length of 22.42 kilometers, will connect  ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) of Dehradun to Gandhi Bagh and Forest Research Institute (FRI) of Dehradun to Raipur, to effectively cover the entire city.
iv.The Neo Metro trains will have a maximum speed of 70 kmph, with an average speed of 25 kmph.
v.The project has already received approval from the state government and is currently awaiting clearance from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
vi.The project will be jointly funded by the Union and state governments.
b.Pod Taxi:
i.Pod taxis are driverless electric vehicles that move on a specially designed track.
ii.The pod taxis would cover a distance of 20.74 km with 21 stops in Haridwar. It will have a major stretch of 14.55 km from Sitapur (Jwalapur) to Bharat Mata Mandir.
c.Ropeways:
i.UKMRC also plans to complete two ropeways in Haridwar and Rishikesh for a better travel experience for tourists coming from all over the world for pilgrimage.
ii.The 2-km-long ropeway in Haridwar will take pilgrims from Har Ki Pauri to Chadi Devi in 9 minutes. UKMRC plans to build Asia’s longest ropeway of about 6.5 km in Rishikesh.
The development of ropeways and Pod taxis will be carried out through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with equal investment from the central and state governments.

GRSE launches GAINS 2023 to Promote Innovation in Shipbuilding by Startupsi.On May 22, 2023, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd launched GAINS 2023’ – GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme 2023′ in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB) to utilize the eco-system that tackles current and future challenges in the ship design and construction sector.
ii.GAINS 2023 is a part of GRSE’s drive to identify and promote the development of innovative solutions towards technological advances in shipbuilding by Startups.
iii.The scheme was launched by G Surya Prakash, Assistant Manager (Finance), GRSE in the presence of Minister of State (MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekha, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd:
It is a Category 1 Mini Ratna Company.
Chairman and Managing Director– Commodore (Retd) P R Hari
Headquarters– Kolkata, West Bengal
>> Read Full News

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Lost Over 1.3 Lakh Lives In Disasters Linked To Extreme Weather, Climate Change In 50 Years: WMOAccording to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), India has witnessed 573 disasters related to extreme weather, climate, and water events between 1970 and 2021. These disasters resulted in 1,38,377 death and caused economic losses amounting to USD 18.3 billion.

• According to the data from the Annual Statement on Climate of India, issued by the India Meteorological Department, India recorded 2,227 human casualties due to extreme weather events in 2022.

Note: 
These new findings were issued for the quadrennial World Meteorological Congress(19th session) held from 22 May to 2 June 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
About World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
WMO is a UN Agency dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Secretary-General– Prof. Petteri Taalas
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
>> Read Full News

WHO launches Global Network IPSN to detect and prevent Infectious disease threat

On May 20 2023, The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a global network named The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) to help protect people from infectious disease threats like COVID-19 and share the information to prevent their spread through the power of pathogen genomics.

• The IPSN will provide a platform to connect countries and regions, improving systems for collecting and analysing samples, using these data to drive public health decision-making, and sharing that information more broadly.

Objective:
i.The network aims to help ensure infectious disease threats are swiftly identified and tracked, and the information shared and acted on to prevent catastrophes like the COVID-19 pandemic.
ii.This network could play a vital role in health security, to give every country access to pathogen genomic sequencing and analytics as part of its public health system.
Pathogen Genomics:
Pathogen genomics analyses the genetic code of viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing organisms to understand how infectious and deadly they are and how they spread.
The data feed into a broader disease surveillance system, with this information, scientists and public health officials can identify and track diseases, in a bid to contain outbreaks and to develop treatments and vaccines.
About IPSN and its features:
i.The IPSN, was formally launched on the side-lines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland and the event took place on 20 May 2023 in the InterContinental Geneva (CET) hosted by the WHO’s Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence.

• The establishment of the IPSN has been supported by German government funding to the WHO Pandemic Hub.
• WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence (the WHO Pandemic Hub)was established in September 2021 in Berlin (Germany) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ii.Operational bodies of IPSN:
The IPSN consists of three main operational bodies that bring together different sets of stakeholders, supported by a Secretariat at the WHO Pandemic Hub:

• Partners collaborate in Communities of Practice (COPs)
• The Country Scale-Up Accelerator (CSUA)
• The Funders Forum

iii. The IPSN is a new global network of pathogen genomic actors, to accelerate progress on the deployment of pathogen genomics and improve public health decision-making.
iv. It is the latest of several initiatives launched since COVID-19 that aim to strengthen the world’s ability to prevent and more effectively respond to pandemic threats.
v. The network will bring together experts on genomics and data analytics, drawn from governments, academia, the private sector and elsewhere.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-Genenral– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland

BANKING & FINANCE

Public Sector Banks‘ total profit reaches Rs 1,04,649cr in FY23The 12 Public Sector Banks’ (PSBs) cumulative profit crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark in FY23 by touching Rs 1,04,649 crore.

• They witnessed a 57% increase in total profit compared to Rs 66,539.98 crore earned in FY22.
• In the March 2023 quarter, the PSBs’ profit cumulatively increased more than 95% to Rs 34,483 crore as compared to Rs 17,666 crore in March 2022.

Key Points:
i.In percentage terms,

• Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) had the highest net profit growth with 126% to Rs 2,602 crore.
• It is followed by UCO Bank with a 100% rise to Rs 1,862 crore, and
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) with a 94% increase to Rs 14,110 crore.

ii.In absolute terms, the State Bank of India (SBI) has reported an annual profit of Rs 50,232 crore in 2022-23, showing an increase of 59% over FY22.
iii.Except for the Punjab National Bank (PNB), other PSBs have reported impressive annual increases in their profit after tax.PNB posted a 27% decline in annual net profit from Rs 3,457 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 2,507 crore in March 2023.
iv.The PSBs which reported an annual profit in excess of Rs 10,000 crore are Bank of Baroda (Rs 14,110 crore) and Canara Bank (Rs 10,604 crore).
v.Punjab & Sind Bank posted an annual profit growth 26% (Rs 1,313 crore), Central Bank of India 51% (Rs 1,582 crore), Indian Overseas Bank 23% (Rs 2,099 crore), Bank of India 18% (Rs 4,023 crore), Indian Bank 34% (Rs 5,282 crore) and Union Bank of India 61% ( Rs 8,433 crore)
The doom-to-bloom story of PSBs:
From 2016-17 to 2020-21, the Central Government infused Rs 3,10,997 crore to recapitalize PSBs. This infusion was a part of 4R strategy: Recognising NPAs transparently, Resolution and recovery, Recapitalising PSBs, and Reforms in the financial ecosystem.

• Recapitalization program provided much-needed support to the PSBs and prevented the possibility of any default.

Public Sector Bank in India:
In India, public sector banks (PSBs) are financial institutions that are owned and operated by the government, a majority stake held by the government, typically more than 50% of the bank’s equity capital. The government exercises control and influence over these banks through its majority ownership.
Government Shareholding % of 12 PSBs, as at end-December 2022 :-
State Bank of India (57.59%), Canara Bank (62.93%), Bank of Baroda (63.97%), Punjab National Bank (73.15%), Indian Bank (79.86%), Bank of India (81.41%), Union Bank of India (83.49%), Bank of Maharashtra (90.97%), Central Bank of India (93.08%), UCO Bank (95.39%), Indian Overseas Bank (96.38%) and Punjab and Sind Bank (98.25%).

Google Pay & NPCI Collaborate to Integrate RuPay Credit Cards with UPIOn May 23 2023, Google pay has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to enable the integration of RuPay credit cards with Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

• The users could avail the feature by linking the RuPay credit cards with Google Pay to pay at all online and offline merchants where RuPay credit cards are accepted.

Backdrop: 
i.To further deepen the reach and usage of UPI, in June 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed the linking of credit cards (starting with RuPay at first) to the UPI platform to make payments.
ii.Currently, UPI facilitates transactions by linking savings and current accounts through debit cards.
Key Points:
i.The feature is now available to RuPay credit card holders of Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB), Canara Bank, HDFC bank, Indian Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank(PNB) and Union Bank of India(UBI).
ii.Benefit: The integration of RuPay Credit Card on UPI will provide both the convenience of UPI with the benefits of RuPay Credit Card.

Additional info:
i.As per the NPCI data, approximately 74 billion transactions worth Rs 125.94 trillion were conducted using UPI in 2022.
ii.NPCI has also reported a massive rise in monthly transactions, as the UPI transactions touched 8.7 billion in March 2023.

YES Bank Partners with IIT Kanpur to Transform Startups and Red Hat to Redefine Mobile Banking Experience

Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with YES Bank to provide financial support to the startups incubated at SIIC.
Key Points:
i.As per the terms of the MoU, SIIC and YES Bank will collaborate to identify innovative startups and extend them the necessary financial backing.
ii.The partnership intends to establish the startup ecosystem in India by granting ventures access to a wide range of resources through YES Bank’s specialised startup-focused program called YES Head-Startup.
iii.The YES Head-Startup program which is backed by a full-service banking proposition, is specifically created for technology-based or technology-enabled startups and is complemented by an exclusive privilege program.
-YES BANK Collaborates with Red Hat to Redefine Mobile Banking Experience 
On May 22, 2023, as per the announcement of Red Hat, Inc., the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, YES BANK has adopted Azure Red Hat OpenShift to transform their next-generation mobile banking applications for efficient mobile banking experience for its customers.

• Azure Red Hat OpenShift platform will enable YES BANK to improve customer experience and provide innovative banking solutions by launching security-focused and efficient modern applications.
• These applications will have the agility and flexibility to scale on demand, and also support creating a seamless customer experience across multiple banking solutions.

About YES Bank Ltd.:
MD&CEO – Prashant Kumar
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment – 2004
Tagline – Experience Our Expertise

RBI Board approved Transfer of Rs 87,416 Crore as Surplus to Government

On 19th May 2023, the board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the transfer of Rs 87,416 crore as surplus to the Government for the year 2022-2023 at the 602nd meeting of the RBI’s Central Board of Directors, Chaired by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. It also decided to raise the contingency risk buffer to 6% from 5.5%.

• In the financial year (FY) 2021-2022, the RBI transferred Rs 30,307 crore to the government.
• The RBI’s annual report and its financial statements for the accounting year 2022–2023 were approved by the board, led by Shaktikanta Das. The board also discussed the working of the RBI during the year April 2022 to March 2023.

Bank of Baroda introduces Live Video chat & Web Chat for Customers

Bank of Baroda (BOB), launched two innovative customer service initiatives: “a Live Video Calling service- bob Video Chat” and “a Live Web Chat facility- bob Live Chat” on its website to enhance the overall experience for customers and prospective customers.
BoB is the 1st Public Sector bank to offer live video chat and live web chat services to its customers.

• These 2 initiatives are introduced for people to effortlessly get in touch with the Bank and seamlessly address their banking queries.
• The Bank has also launched an easy-to-remember, 8-digit toll-free number (1800 5700) with 24 hours a day, everyday customer support, in 11 languages (English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Odia, Punjabi and Bengali).
• bob Video Chat facility is also available at the BoB’s Digital Banking Units (DBUs) across India.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Garuda Aerospace & HAL’s subsidiary Naini Aerospace partners to Manufacture Make in India dronesOn May 22 2023, Garuda Aerospace Private Limited, a Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) startup and Uttar Pradesh (UP) based Naini Aerospace engineering limited (NAeL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)- under the Ministry of Defence(MoD), has signed a joint development partnership to manufacture indigenous drones for various applications.
Signatories: 
The MoU was signed by RR Thakur, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NAeL, and Vijaykumar Rajarathinam, executive director of Garuda Aerospace, in the presence of Agnishwar Jayprakash, CEO of Garuda Aerospace in an online mode.
About the advanced precision drones: 
i.The advanced precision drones developed by Garuda Aerospace will be able to carry a payload of around 25 kg and shall cover a radius of 500 metre with speed of 5 metre/second.
ii.The drone has a spray efficiency of 1500-2550 square metre/minute.
Note:

• As part of the partnership, 5000 drones are planned in the first year.
• Garuda Aerospace have pre-booked over 7,000 drones at Rs.4.5 lakh each.

Features of the Partnership:
i.Under this partnership, the NAeL, Naini (Prayagraj, UP) based Public sector unit, will start manufacturing the heavy-duty drones by the end of June 2023.
ii. The initiative is expected to create employment and will boost economic activities in Naini industrial area, which is also an educational hub.
iii. This will be the first drone manufacturing facility in northern India with the potential to add value to the industries like Security and Surveillance, agriculture, mapping of lands among other things to cater the requirements within India.
Key Points: 
i. The partnership will promote the indigenisation of imported components required for the manufacturing of drones.
Note: At present, most of the components (75%) are being imported from China and many Western countries.
ii. The partnership also enables a reduction in cost given the ease of transportation.
This partnership is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of achieving the milestone of 1 lakh ‘Made in India’ drones by 2024.
About Garuda Aerospace:
Founded in– 2015
Founder & CEO– Agnishwar Jayaprakash
Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu
About Naini Aerospace engineering limited (NAeL):
Founded in– 29th December 2016
CEO– R.R.Thakur
Headquarters– Naini, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

JSW Steel & JFE Steel form JV to Manufacture CRGO Products in India

Mumbai(Maharashtra) based JSW Steel Limited, a flagship company of JSW Group, and Japan’s JFE Steel Corporation, the 2nd largest Japanese steel manufacturer, will form a joint venture (JV) company (50:50) to manufacture the entire range of CRGO (Cold Rolled Grain Oriented) products at its proposed facilities at Vijayanagara, Karnataka.
The JV company will be the 1st to produce CRGO products with its entire chain of manufacturing processes in India.

• The JV will contribute to the rapidly growing Indian demand, with its “Made in India” CRGO products based on JFE Steel’s energy-efficient production technology developed through extensive research and development (R&D).
• The finalisation of the JV will be subject to the execution of definitive agreements and necessary regulatory approvals.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS     

Commonwealth Foundation Announced 2023 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Regional Winners The regional winners of the 2023 Commonwealth Short Story Prize have been announced. The Commonwealth Foundation named the winning writers from five continents such as Hana Gammon (South Africa, Africa) Agnes Chew (Singapore, Asia), Rue Baldry (United Kingdom, Canada and Europe), Kwame McPherson (Jamaica, Caribbean) and Himali McInnes (New Zealand, Pacific).

•  The Commonwealth Short Story Prize which is a cultural initiative of the Commonwealth Foundation is awarded annually since 2012 for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from the Commonwealth.
• The regional winners of 2023 have been selected from 6,642 entries.

Note: The 2024 prize will open for submissions on 1 September 2023 and will also accept entries in Bengali, Chinese, Swahili and Tamil and the winning entry, in one of these languages, will be translated into English.
Prize Ceremony and Publishing:
i. On 27 June 2023, the overall winner of the prize will be announced in the 12th edition of Commonwealth Short Story Prize in an online ceremony.
ii. Regional winners each receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £5,000.
iii. On 24 May 2023, the five regional winning stories will be published online by the literary magazine Granta of the United Kingdom, and will also be published in a special print edition by Paper + Ink, available online and in bookshops from 27 June 2023.
Jury Panel:
The international judging panel, comprising a chairperson and five judges, one from each of the Commonwealth Regions.
Bilal Tanweer (chairperson, Pakistan, Asia), Rémy Ngamije (Africa), Ameena Hussein (Asia), Katrina Best (Canada and Europe), Mac Donald Dixon (Caribbean) and Selina Tusitala Marsh (Pacific).
Eligibility:
i. All citizens of all Commonwealth countries are eligible with a proof of confirmation of citizenship.

• The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries.

ii. Holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards are not eligible, unless they also hold a passport from a Commonwealth member country.
iii. Dual citizens are eligible, as long as one of the countries is a member of the Commonwealth
iv. And the eligible citizens should be aged 18 and over. There is no upper age limit.
Winners List:

Indian writer Vidhan Verma’s story named A Groom like Shahrukh took place on the list of shortlisted stories.   

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS     

Sony Sports Network ropes in Sania Mirza as its Ambassador

Leading sports broadcaster Sony Sports Network (also known as Sony TEN), owned and operated by Sony Pictures Networks (SPN), has roped in Sania Mirza, an Indian former professional tennis player, as a Tennis ambassador for the broadcaster, who will be seen as an expert panellist on the network.
Starting with 2023 Roland Garros, Sania Mirza will be a part of the panel on Sony Sports Network’s studio show, Extraaa Serve.

• Sony Sports Network has launched a special campaign called The Home of Tennis, which showcases Sania Mirza, Sony Sports Network, and the 3 Grand Slams as a perfect match and celebrated the journey of Sania Mirza.
• She is the recipient of the Arjuna Award (2004), Padma Shri (2006), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2015) and Padma Bhushan (2016).        

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian Navy’s warship INS Mormugao Engages Sea-skimming Supersonic TargetOn May 23, 2023, the Indian Navy’s latest indigenous guided missile destroyer, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mormugao, successfully carried out the engagement of a sea-skimming supersonic target with Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) missile.

• The Indian Navy undertook the 1st MRSAM firing from INS Mormugao. 
• The successful MRSAM missile firing by INS Mormugao is yet another milestone in the Indian Navy’s quest for accurate delivery of Ordnance on Target. It showcases Indian Navy’s Future Proof Combat Readiness and commitment toward Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Note – Prior to this, on a test firing INS Mormugao also launched a Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.

What is Sea skimming?
It is a technique that is used by anti-ship missiles and some fighter or strike aircraft to avoid radar or infrared detection during their approach to the target.

About INS Mormugao:
i.It is the second ship of the Visakhapatnam-class Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. 

• It was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai (Maharashtra) to offer new design concepts for improved survivability, seakeeping, and manoeuvrability. 
• INS Mormugao was named after the port city of Goa and started its maiden sea trials on 19 December 2021 commemorating the 60th Goa Liberation Day. It was commissioned on 18 December 2022.

ii.The INS Mormugao measures 163 m in length, and 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.
iii.The ship is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS).
iv.It contains sophisticated weapons and sensors such as surface-to-surface missile and surface-to-air missiles and it is equipped with a modern surveillance radar that provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship.
v.The ship’s Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed Rocket Launchers, Torpedo Launchers, and ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare ) helicopters. 
vi.The ship is also equipped to fight under nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

About MRSAM:
i.The MRSAM is a weapon system capable of engaging multiple targets up to a range of 70 km and it is powered by an indigenously developed rocket motor and control system.
ii.It comprises missiles, combat management system (CMS), mobile launcher systems (MLS), advanced long-range radar, mobile power system (MPS), radar power system (RPS), reloader vehicle (RV), and field service vehicle (FSV).
iii.MRSAM has been jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and produced at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

About Indian Navy:
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral R Hari Kumar
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Founded– 26 January 1950

OBITUARY

Renowned Telugu writer, Sahitya Akademi Awardee Kethu Viswanath Reddy Passed AwayOn May 22 2023, a noted Telugu writer, novelist and Sahitya Akademi awardee Kethu Viswanath Reddy passed away in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh (AP) at the age of 84. He was born on July 10, 1939.
Career of Kethu Viswanath Reddy:
i. KethuViswanatha Reddy hails from Rangasaipuram village in Yerraguntlamandal of YSR (Kadapa) district in AP and started his career as a journalist.
ii. He is well known for his short stories and novels depicting culture and ethos of Rayalaseema, the southern region of Andhra Pradesh in the same dialect.
iii. He served as a teacher and rendered distinguished service in Kadapa, Tirupati, Hyderabad and other places of Andhra Pradesh. He also served as the Director of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (Dr BRAOU) in  Hyderabad, Telangana.
iv. He also served as the editor of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
v. He also served as the president of AbhyudayaRachayithalaSangam (Arasam) or (Progressive Writers Association) in Andhra Pradesh.
vi. He has also served as a member of the General Council of the Central Sahitya Academy.
Notable works:
i.His first short story “Anaadivaallu” was published in the journal Savyasaachi in 1963.
ii.KethuViswanatha Reddy Kathalu (1998 – 2003), Japthu, and Ichhagni are among his best-known collections of short stories.
iii. Famous novels: Verlu and Bodhi.
Awards:
i.In 1996, Viswanatha Reddy received the Sahitya Akademi Award (Telugu) for his Short story Kethu Viswanatha Reddy Kathalu.
ii. In 2021, he was honoured with YSR Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Telugu literature.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Turtle Day 2023 – May 23World Turtle Day is annually observed across the globe on May 23 to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world.

23rd May 2023 marks the observance of the 23rd World Turtle Day. 

• The theme of World Turtle Day 2023 is “I Love Turtles”.

i. In 2000, the American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a non-profit organization based in Malibu, California, United States of America (USA), launched World Turtle Day.
ii. The day is being annually celebrated across the globe on May 23 since 2000.
iii. ATR and World Turtle Day were established by a husband and wife duo, Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, who saved two Russian tortoises named Peggy Sue, in 1990.
>> Read Full News

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2023 – May 23United Nations (UN)’s International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is annually observed across the globe on May 23 to raise awareness about obstetric fistula and to promote actions towards its prevention, treatment, and eventual elimination.

• The theme of the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2023 observed on 23rd May 2023 is “20 years on – progress but not enough! Act now to end fistula by 2030!”.

i. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/67/147 on 20th December 2012 and proclaimed May 23 of every year as International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.
ii. The 1st ever International Day to End Obstetric Fistula was observed on 23rd May 2013. 
About the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
i. UNFPA began operating in 1969 as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities.
ii. UNFPA is the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency.
Executive Director- Dr Natalia Kanem
Headquarters- New York, United States of America (USA)
>> Read Full News

Endangered Species Day 2023 – May 19Endangered Species Day(ESD) is annually observed across the globe on the 3rd Friday of May to create awareness about endangered flora and fauna and to highlight the significance of the plants and animals working in harmony to sustain the ecosystem.
Endangered Species Day 2023 was observed on 19th May 2023.

• Endangered Species Day 2022 was observed on 20th May 2022.
• Endangered Species Day 2024 will be observed on 17th May 2024.

According to the Endangered Species Coalition(ESC), The theme of Endangered Species Day 2023 is “Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of The Endangered Species Act!”

Significance of ESD 2023: 
2023 marks the observance of the 18th annual Endangered Species Day and the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, the primary law in the United States of America for protecting imperilled species.
Note: 

• ESA of 1973 provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats both domestically and abroad.
• The act establishes protections for fish, wildlife, and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered.

Background:
Endangered Species Day, the global day of action was created and founded by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition(ESC) in 2006.

• Since 2006, the Endangered Species Day is annually observed on the 3rd Friday of May.

Key Points:
i.The day offers a platform to raise awareness about the increasing number of animal species facing the risk of extinction and to highlight the disruptive impact of climate change on previously harmonious ecosystems.
ii.The day also promotes the conservation of endangered species and the measures implemented by the USA to ensure the proper protection of these animals.
Endangered Species and India:
The government of India has taken various efforts to protect the endangered species of wild animals in India, which include,

• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 which provides protection to the wild animals against hunting and commercial exploitation.
• Under this, Protected Areas such as National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitats have been created all over India.
• The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to strengthen the enforcement of the law for the control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products.
• Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”, “Project Tiger” and “Project Elephant” provides better protection for wildlife and improvement of its habitat.

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List of Current Governors in India – February 2023

List of Current Chief Ministers in India – February 2023

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