May 16 To 22 2021 Rbi GR B Sebi GR A Nabard GR A Lyst6837

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READ ME PLEASE
Let us try to understand how to read this magazine for preparing the current affairs of RBI Gr B,
NABARD Gr A, NABARD Gr B and SEBI Gr A
What are the areas where current affairs-based questions are asked in RBI Gr B, NABARD Gr A and
B examinations and SEBI Gr A?
• After thorough analysis of previous year papers of RBI Grade B and NABARD Gr A and B
examinations, we understand that current affairs form an important part of these examinations-
both phase 1 as well as phase 2, and with the changed pattern of SEBI Gr A – it would be
majorly relevant for Phase 1.
• For RBI Gr B examination, current affairs-based questions are asked in Phase 1 (General
Awareness – GA Section) and ESI and Finance paper of Phase 2
• For NABARD Gr A and B examinations, current affairs based questions are asked in Phase 1
(General Awareness – GA Section, Economics and Social Issues – ESI Section as well as
Agriculture and Rural Development – ARD Section) as well as Phase 2 (Economics and Social
Issues – ESI Section as well as Agriculture and Rural Development – ARD Section which is a
combined paper of 100 marks)
What is the weightage of current affairs-based questions in Phase 1 and 2 of RBI Gr B and
NABARD Gr A and B examinations?
Let us look at RBI Gr B first:
Phase 1 – GA Phase 2 – ESI Phase 2 – FM

Total Marks = 80 Total Marks = 100 Total Marks = 100
Current Affairs weightage = Current Affairs weightage = 80- Current Affairs weightage = 20-
60-65 Marks 85 Marks 25 Marks
Now let us take a look at NABARD Gr A and B examination:
Phase 1 – GA Phase 1 - ESI Phase 1- ARD Phase 2 – ESI Phase 2 –

Phase 2 –
ARD
Paper III (for Gr
B)
Total Marks = Total Marks = Total Marks = Total Marks = Total Marks = Total Marks =
20 40 40 50 50 100
Current Current Affairs Current Current Affairs Current Current Affairs
Affairs weightage = Affairs weightage = Affairs weightage = 5-
weightage = 25-30 Marks weightage = 35-40 Marks weightage = 10 Marks
15-20 Marks 10-15 Marks 15-20 Marks
What is the nature of questions asked based on current affairs in these examinations?
To understand and better appreciate the nature of questions asked, this current affairs document
provided by EduTap has been divided into 3 sections namely:
2|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241
1. GA in news
2. GA + ESI (Economics and Social Issues) in news
3. GA + Finance in news
Why this division?
• For the simple reason that current affairs need to be prepared in a combined manner for Phase
1 as well as Phase 2 of these examinations.
• General Awareness has been taken as the super set and all other sections – ESI, Finance and
ARD are nothing but subsets of the super set of GA when we talk about current affairs.
• Simply put, this means that all the current affairs which are important for ESI, ARD and Finance
can also be asked in GA. (ARD for NABARD Gr A/B specifically)
Example of the Previous Year Questions:
Q.Which of the following organizations has released State of Global Climate Report 2018 recently
(April 2019)?
A) UNFCCC
B) BRICS
C) WMO
D) IPCC
E) None of the above
First look at this question suggests that this can be asked in the ESI section of the examinations as
the topic “Environmental issues and Sustainable Development” has been mentioned in the official
syllabus of ESI for both RBI Gr B and NABARD Gr A examinations.
But, can this question also be asked under General Awareness Section of Phase 1 of RBI Gr B and
NABARD Gr A/B or SEBI Gr A? Yes!
Let us take another example.
Q.Who among the following was the chairperson of the Committee on Currency Management
constituted by RBI in the year 2016?
A) Viral Acharya
B) Duvvuri Subbarao
C) Bimal Jalan
D) D.K. Mohanty

First look at this question suggests that this can be asked in the Finance section of the examination
as the topic “Recent Developments in the Financial Sector” has been mentioned in the official
syllabus of Finance for RBI Gr B examination.
NABARD Gr A/B or SEBI Gr A? Again, Yes!
Let us take one last example:
Q.In which of the following years was e-NAM launched?
A) 2012
B) 2013
C) 2015
D) 2016
What about this question?
First look at this question suggests that this can be asked in the Agriculture and Rural Development
(ARD) section of the examination as the topic “Agricultural Finance and Marketing” has been
mentioned in the official syllabus of ARD for NABARD Gr A/B examination.
NABARD Gr A/B or SEBI Gr A? Again, Yes!
So, we have firmly established that the questions asked based on current affairs in ESI, ARD as well
as Finance can be asked in the GA section as well, didn’t we say that GA is the super set?
This also implies that there are certain areas in GA which cannot be asked in ESI, ARD or Finance.
What are those areas? Let us consider some examples:
Q.Who among the following personalities has recently (April 2019) become the first Indian to join
the FIFA council?
A) Praful Patel
B) Sharad Pawar
C) Utpal Kumar Ganguly
D) Krishnendu Banerjee
Q.Who has been elected as the first woman President of Slovakia recently (April 2019)?
A) Viorica Dancila

B) Zuzana Caputova
C) Kersti Kaljulaid
D) Ana Brnabic
Both these questions are such that can be asked in GA section but not in ESI, Finance or ARD. Why?
For the simple reason that these questions cannot be linked to any of the topics of ESI, ARD or
Finance as given in the official syllabus for RBI Gr B and NABARD Gr A/B examinations.
Based on this analysis, we have divided our current affairs magazine into 3 sections:
1. GA in news
2. GA + ESI (Economics and Social Issues) in news
3. GA + Finance in news
The first section – GA in news covers those news which can be asked in GA only and not in ESI or
Finance.
The second section – GA + ESI in news covers those news which can be asked in GA as well as ESI.
The third section – GA + Finance in news covers those news which can be asked in GA as well as
Finance/ESI of NABARD Gr A/B
How to read this document for Phase 1?
For RBI Grade B - you need to refer to first three sections of the magazine because the syllabus of
Phase 1 includes General Awareness (GA). This GA includes GA in news, GA + ESI in news and GA +
Finance in news.
For NABARD Grade A - you need to refer to first and second part of the magazine. The syllabus of
the exam includes current affairs from GA, ESI & ARD(A separate magazine is provided for ARD)
How to read this document for Phase 2?
For RBI Grade B - you need to refer to the second and third sections of this magazine. Section first
i.e GA in news is not important for Phase 2 as in this phase such type of questions are not asked.
The section of GA + ESI in news and GA + Finance in news are important for Phase 2 with two
separate exams of ESI and FM, 100 marks each.
For NABARD Grade A – you need to refer to second and third sections of this magazinefor Phase 2
of this paper.
A combined paper of ESI + ARD with 100 marks is conducted in this phase. Section first i.e GA in
news is not important here but it is important to understand that all the financial developments
covered in Finance sections are also relevant for the NABARD Gr A/B with the changing pattern of
the examination.

Syllabus Topic mentioned in ESI part of NABARD Gr A which is related to all the Finance section
news –“Rural banking and financial institutions in India - Reforms in Banking/Financial sector”
Questions asked in NABARD Gr A 2020 – Phase 2
Q.According to RBI data, what is the central government’s External Debt by March 2020?
A) USD 558.5 billion
B) USD 455.5 billion
C) USD 659.6 billion
D) USD 252.9 billion
Answer : USD 558.5 billion
Q. Paragraph – Framework for Bank Frauds
Government has launched "Fraud Prevention and Management Function" toenable, among others,
effective investigation of fraud cases. It talked about RedFlagged Account and EWS. In EWS, S stands
for?
A) Simple
B) System
C) Signals
D) Systematic
Answer : Signals (Early Warning Signals)
Note - ARD month wise magazine is separately provided by us to cover “ARD in news”
Now that we have understood how to read this magazine, let’s dive in!

Contents
National News ............................................................................................................................................................13
1.1 World War II airport in Assam becomes operational .................................................................................13
1.2 NHAI exempts tankers carrying Liquid Medical Oxygen from toll fee .......................................................13
1.3 CCI approves internal restructuring of IBM Corporation ...........................................................................13
1.4 Government takes steps to ramp up availability of Amphotericin B .........................................................13
1.5 Amazon India launches free video streaming service on shopping app ....................................................13
1.6 Hero MotoCorp collaborates with Adloid for first fully digital showroom ................................................14
1.7 TCS launches cloud-based subscription solution for media clients............................................................14
1.8 Google launches “Showcase” to train journalists in digital skills ...............................................................14
1.9 6 Indian places added to tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites ....................................................14
1.10 Government appoints inquiry committee to probe drifting of vessels due to cyclone .............................14
1.11 Government of India to set up 'Defence Enclave' ......................................................................................15
1.12 Carlyle sells 4.2% in SBI Life ........................................................................................................................15
1.13 Government has launched indigenously-developed COVID-19 drug 2-DG ................................................15
1.14 National Gallery of Modern Art has started long summer workshop NAIMISHA 2021 .............................15
1.15 DST institute develops new multiplex RT-PCR kit.......................................................................................15
1.16 Sports Ministry approves Rs 2.5 Lakh assistance to Powerlifting coach Joseph James .............................16
1.17 PayPal has introduced digital Foreign Inward Remittance Advice .............................................................16
1.18 IDRBT is building next generation Digital Financial Infrastructure .............................................................16
1.19 India & Oman have renewed MoUs on military cooperation & maritime issues ......................................16
1.20 DRDO has developed antibody detection kit for COVID-19 .......................................................................16
1.21 INS Jalashwa arrives with critical COVID relief consignment from Brunei and Singapore .........................17
1.22 INS Trikand arrives at Mumbai port with COVID relief material ................................................................17
1.23 India has organised first BRICS energy meet ..............................................................................................17
1.24 Assam has appointed ‘guardian ministers’ for its various districts ............................................................17
1.25 SECI Organizes Online Yoga Workshop for Employees ..............................................................................17
1.26 CCI approves acquisition of YES Bank’s Mutual Fund Subsidiaries by GPL Finance and Investments
Limited ....................................................................................................................................................................18
1.27 CCI nods Adani Ports' acquisition of additional 25% stake in Adani Krishnapatnam Port .........................18
1.28 Export of GI certified Gholvad Sapota (chikoo) to UK begins .....................................................................18
1.29 EPCH organizes 51st IHGF –Delhi Fair-2021 ...............................................................................................18
1.30 POWERGRID takes initiatives to fight COVID .............................................................................................19
International News ....................................................................................................................................................19
1.31 WHO approves China's Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine ................................................................................19
1.32 SpaceX accepts dogecoin as payment to launch lunar mission next year .................................................19
1.33 CCI approves proposed acquisition Ingram Micro Inc. by Imola Acquisition Corporation.........................19

1.34 Israel’s Iron Dome aerial defence system intercepts Hamas UAV .............................................................19
1.35 OneWeb partners SoftBank to roll out satellite communication services .................................................20
1.36 Texas House passes contentious ‘heartbeat bill’ restricting abortion .......................................................20
1.37 Yoweri Museveni takes oath as Uganda’s President ..................................................................................20
1.38 Senior Hamas commander killed as Israel strikes Gaza..............................................................................20
1.39 Harley-Davidson launches all-electric motorcycle brand ...........................................................................20
1.40 US House passes anti-Asian hate crimes bill ..............................................................................................20
1.41 Google to open its first physical retail store in New York ..........................................................................21
1.42 Japan mulls alternatives to Suez Canal .......................................................................................................21
1.43 Credit Suisse has announced to hire over 1,000 IT employees in India in 2021 ........................................21
1.44 Russia and China have started their biggest Nuclear Power Project .........................................................21
1.45 US: Biden administration approves nation's first major offshore wind farm ............................................21
1.46 China has launched new ocean observation satellite Haiyang-2D .............................................................21
1.47 India loses ONGC-discovered Farzad-B gas field in Iran .............................................................................22
1.48 WEF cancels 2021 annual meeting in Singapore due to Covid...................................................................22
Appointments ............................................................................................................................................................22
1.49 Gunjan Shah appointed as new CEO of Bata India .....................................................................................22
1.50 Martin Griffiths appointed as UN humanitarian chief................................................................................23
1.51 Elisabetta Belloni named as first woman to head Italy secret service .......................................................23
1.52 Manisha Kapoor joins executive committee of ICAS ..................................................................................23
1.53 Indian-American Neera Tanden appointed White House senior adviser ...................................................23
1.54 S Balachandran has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Suriname .................................23
1.55 Padmakumar M Nair has been appointed as the CEO of NARCL ...............................................................23
1.56 Narinder Batra has been re-elected as FIH president ................................................................................23
1.57 Justice Alok Kumar Verma has been appointed as the Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court ..................24
1.58 Vikas Bahl appointed as Additional Judge of Punjab & Haryana High Court .............................................24
1.59 Subodh Kumar Jaiswal has been appointed as the Director of CBI ............................................................24
Persons in News .........................................................................................................................................................24
1.60 Moscow Olympic gold medallist Ravinder Pal Singh passes away .............................................................24
1.61 Himanta Biswa Sarma takes oath as chief minister of Assam ....................................................................24
1.62 Eminent sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra passes away ..............................................................................24
1.63 Epidemiologist Smarajit Jana passes away .................................................................................................24
1.64 Amritsar MP Raghunandan Lal Bhatia passes away ...................................................................................25
1.65 Freedom fighter & INA veteran Lalti Ram passes away .............................................................................25
1.66 Industrialist Kantisen Shroff passes away ..................................................................................................25
1.67 Arjuna awardee V Chandrasekhar passes away .........................................................................................25
1.68 Sudhir Sitapati steps down as HUL's Executive Director ............................................................................25

1.69 Assamese litterateur Homen Borgohain passes away ...............................................................................25
1.70 Sitar player Prateek Chaudhuri passes away ..............................................................................................25
1.71 Swadhin Bangla Bangla Betar artist Anup Bhattacharya passes away .......................................................25
1.72 Ruskin Bond’s new book to be out on his 87th birthday............................................................................25
1.73 Noted Journalist Sunil Jain passes away .....................................................................................................25
1.74 Former Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti passes away ...............................................26
1.75 Former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta passes away ............................................................................26
1.76 Bernard Arnault becomes world’s second-richest person .........................................................................26
1.77 Pinarayi Vijayan takes oath as Chief Minister of Kerala .............................................................................26
1.78 Former NSG Director General Jyoti Krishan Dutt passes away ..................................................................26
1.79 Former Managing Director of Numaligarh Refinery Limited RK Dutta passes away..................................26
1.80 ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming to step down as CEO ............................................................................26
1.81 Famous Mathematician MS Narasimhan passes away ..............................................................................26
1.82 Times Group chairperson Indu Jain passes away. ......................................................................................27
1.83 Former Rajasthan CM Jagannath Pahadia passes away .............................................................................27
1.84 Environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna passes away ..................................................................................27
1.85 Ex-CBI officer K Ragothaman, who probed Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, passes away .......................27
1.86 Renowned music composer Vanraj Bhatia passes away ............................................................................27
1.87 First Dronacharya awardee coach in boxing O.P. Bhardwaj passes away..................................................27
1.88 Former Atomic Energy Commission of India Chief Srikumar Banerjee passes away .................................27
1.89 Saxophone artiste Machendranath Pandeshwar passes away ..................................................................27
1.90 Shahid Jameel quits as chairman of INSACOG............................................................................................28
Science and Technology .............................................................................................................................................28
1.91 OSIRIS-REx spacecraft starts trip back to Earth after collecting asteroid samples.....................................28
1.92 NASA & Axiom agree to first Private Astronaut Mission on International Space Station ..........................28
1.93 NASA's giant Webb telescope succeeds in key pre-launch test .................................................................28
1.94 NASA's Voyager 1 detects eerie hum of interstellar space ........................................................................28
1.95 China completes historic Mars spacecraft landing .....................................................................................28
Note: The first successful landing ever to Mars was made by NASA's Viking 1 in July 1976. ....................................29
1.96 United Launch Alliance successfully launches SBIRS GEO Flight 5 Mission ................................................29
1.97 China launches more classified Yaogan satellites into orbit ......................................................................29
1.98 SN 15, prototype of the futuristic Starship rocket makes successful launch and landing .........................29
1.99 IIT Guwahati team has developed smart window materials for automatic climate control of buildings ..29
1.100 Reliance Jio to build largest international submarine cable system centred on India ...........................30
1.101 RRI scientists develops low cost magnetometer to measure unknown magnetic fields .......................30
Environment ...............................................................................................................................................................30
1.102 Cyclone Tauktae hits Karnataka coast ....................................................................................................30

1.103 Blood Moon on 26th May 2021 ...............................................................................................................30
1.104 Deep-sea Pacific Football fish washes up on California beach ...............................................................30
1.105 World’s largest iceberg has broken off from Antarctica ........................................................................31
Days in News ..............................................................................................................................................................31
1.106 Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2021 .........................................................................................................31
1.107 PM Modi pays tribute to Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his Jayanti ............................................................31
1.108 Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2021 ...............................................................................................................31
1.109 UN Adopts May 10th as International Day of Argania ...........................................................................31
1.110 Sikkim celebrates statehood day on 16th May........................................................................................32
1.111 International Day of Light: 16th May .......................................................................................................32
1.112 International Day of Living Together in Peace: 16th May .......................................................................32
1.113 World Hypertension Day: 17th May ........................................................................................................32
1.114 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: 17th May ......................................................32
1.115 International Museum Day: 18th May.....................................................................................................32
1.116 World Aids Vaccine Day: 18th May..........................................................................................................33
1.117 World Bee Day: 20th May ........................................................................................................................33
1.118 World Metrology Day: 20th May .............................................................................................................33
1.119 12th Founding Day of Competition Commission of India.......................................................................33
1.120 National Anti Terrorism Day: 21st May ...................................................................................................33
1.121 International Tea Day: 21st May .............................................................................................................33
1.122 International Thyroid Awareness Week and World Thyroid Day: 24th to 29th May ...............................34
1.123 Vesak Day 2021 observed globally: 26th May .........................................................................................34
Defence in News ........................................................................................................................................................34
1.124 IAF covid air Support Management Cell (CASMC) Operations ...............................................................34
1.125 First batch of Women Military Police inducted into Indian Army ..........................................................34
1.126 BEML unveils mechanical minefield marking equipment for Indian Army ............................................34
1.127 INS Rajput has been decommissioned on 21 May 2021 ........................................................................34
1.128 Indian Navy designs Oxygen Recycling System ......................................................................................35
Sports..........................................................................................................................................................................35
1.129 Lewis Hamilton claims his 100th career pole position ............................................................................35
1.130 Aryna Sabalenka wins Madrid Open.......................................................................................................35
1.131 Alexander Zverev wins his second Madrid Open title ............................................................................35
1.132 Bhavani Devi becomes India’s first Olympic-bound Fencer ...................................................................35
1.133 Tennis star Barbora Strycova announces retirement .............................................................................35
1.134 India retains top spot in ICC Test Team rankings ...................................................................................35
1.135 New Zealand to host women’s 2021 Rugby World Cup .........................................................................35
1.136 Saul Alvarez beats Joe Saunders to unify super middleweight titles .....................................................36
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1.137 Manchester City crowned Premier League champions ..........................................................................36
1.138 Future Generali launches mental health campaign with sports icons ...................................................36
1.139 Gurjoat Singh Khangura shot two perfect rounds of 25 in Shotgun Worldcup......................................36
1.140 Sports Ministry has approved Rs 2 Lakh assistance to Arjuna Award Winner V Tejaswini Bai ..............36
1.141 Rafael Nadal wins Italian Open 2021 ......................................................................................................36
1.142 NBA creates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award ......................................................36
1.143 High jumper Tejaswin Shankar clinches gold at outdoor meet in US.....................................................37
Awards........................................................................................................................................................................37
1.144 Nagaland conservationist Nuklu Phom gets prestigious Whitley Awards 2021.....................................37
1.145 AV Rama Rao Technology Award 2021...................................................................................................37
1.146 GUVI sets Guinness record for upskilling people in Python ...................................................................37
1.147 Miss Mexico Andrea Meza gets crowned Miss Universe 2020 ..............................................................37
1.148 Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen conferred with Spain's top award in social sciences ...............................38
1.149 Recycling Carbon technology by Bengaluru startup has received TDB National Award 2021 ...............38
Banking .......................................................................................................................................................................38
1.150 RBI cancels licence of West Bengal's United Co-operative Bank ...........................................................38
1.151 RBI grants PPI authorisation to Eroute Technologies .............................................................................39
1.152 SBI Card raises Rs 455 crore by issuing bonds ........................................................................................39
1.153 IDFC First Bank planning to make home loans 40% of total portfolio ....................................................39
1.154 HSBC India launches digital banking solutions for its corporate customers ..........................................39
1.155 SBI partners with HyperVerge for “Video KYC solution” ........................................................................39
1.156 Government to sell 1.95% SUUTI stake in Axis Bank ..............................................................................40
2 GA + ESI in News .................................................................................................................................................40
2.1 Centre notifies 48.32 sq km around TCFS as eco sensitive zone ................................................................40
2.2 Children impacted by Covid-19 are provided Tele Counselling through SAMVEDNA ................................40
2.3 Toll Free Helpline ELDERLINE (14567) becomes operational in several states ..........................................41
2.4 WPI inflation rises to 11-year high in April 2021 .........................................................................................41
2.5 Mineral Production during March 2021 (Provisional) ................................................................................41
2.6 AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenge concludes with great success .......................................................42
2.7 How fluctuations in prices impact overall economy ..................................................................................42
2.8 Punjab launches COVID-19 vaccination drive for families of healthcare workers .....................................42
2.9 SECI organizes webinar on mental health and immunity ...........................................................................43
2.10 Haryana first state to reimburse GST on Covid-related donations ............................................................43
2.11 Income Tax Department to launch new e-filing portal ..............................................................................43
2.12 Health Ministry accepts new recommendations of NEGVAC on COVID vaccination .................................43
2.13 Opening session of Conference of Health Ministers of Commonwealth Countries...................................44
2.14 SEBI proposes merger of debt securities rules into single regulation ........................................................44

2.15 EPFO adds 11.22 lakh net subscribers in the month of March, 2021 ........................................................45
2.16 PFRDA subscriber base jumps to 42.7 million by April 2021 ......................................................................45
2.17 PIB organizes Webinar on “Finding the Light Inside: Mental Well-being and the Pandemic” ...................46
2.18 Kerala declares mucormycosis a notifiable disease ...................................................................................46
2.19 “e-Courts Services Mobile App” released in English and Regional Languages...........................................46
2.20 Minister of State for External Affairs reiterates India’s commitment to build more resilient & stronger
Africa 47
2.21 DST invites applications to NIDHI4COVID2.0 initiative to tackle COVID-19 2nd wave ................................47
2.22 All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers – April, 2021...................48
2.23 Government raises subsidy on DAP fertilizer by 140% to Rs 1,200 per bag ..............................................48
2.24 RBI Board approves transfer of Rs 99,122 crore as surplus to Central Government .................................49
2.25 Union Government to give Subsistence Allowance for Transgender Persons ...........................................49
2.26 Defence Minister launches SeHAT OPD portal ...........................................................................................49
2.27 Cabinet approves PLI scheme for battery manufacturing ..........................................................................50
2.28 Punjab government frames New Punjab Prison Rules, 2021 .....................................................................50
2.29 National Bamboo Mission launches MIS module for Agarbatti industry ...................................................51
2.30 MP government to provide ₹5,000 per month, free education and ration to Covid orphans...................51
2.31 UN global economic forecast at 5.4% growth in 2021 ...............................................................................52
2.32 Haryana undertakes Monkey Census .........................................................................................................52
2.33 Transfer of land from ITBP to Uttarakhand government for infrastructure project ..................................53
2.34 GDP growth may be below 9% in FY22: Care Ratings ................................................................................53
2.35 Gems, jewellery exports increased to ₹25,226 crore in April 2021: GJEPC................................................53
2.36 Plasma therapy dropped from Covid-19 management guidelines in India ................................................54
2.37 NBFCs record double digit growth in Q2, Q3 of FY21.................................................................................54
2.38 ‘Oxygen on Wheels’, dispatched for rural areas of Mathura .....................................................................55
2.39 Ministry of Ayush organises ‘Be with Yoga, Be at Home’ ...........................................................................55
2.40 TRIFED and NITI Aayog to partner for implementing Van Dhan initiative in tribal clusters.......................55
2.41 Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery to start from 15th June ...............................................................................56
2.42 Dr. Harsh Vardhan presents details of 147th and 148th session of Executive Board of WHA .....................57
2.43 Government Launches first of its kind Six- Month CBID Program on Rehabilitation of Divyangjan ..........58
3 GA + Finance in news ..........................................................................................................................................59
3.1 Extension of Validity of Registration Certificates issued under The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act,
(FCRA) 2010 Expiring/Expired during period between 29.09.2020 and 30.09.2021 .............................................59
3.2 Enhancement of facilities under the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules,2017
59
3.3 India Inc’s foreign investment jumps to $2.51 billion in April 2021 ...........................................................60
3.4 CII expresses concerns over RBI’s new norms for Statutory Auditors appointment .................................60
3.5 Government extends timelines for income tax compliance amid Covid-19 crisis .....................................60
1 GA in News:
National News
1.1 World War II airport in Assam becomes operational
• Recently, the World War II Rupsi airport in Assam, which lay defunct since 1984, has
become operational with the landing of a commercial flight of the Flybig airline.
• The flight took off for Kolkata and returned to Rupsi en-route to Guwahati.
Additional information-
• Rupsi airport near Gauripur, was one of South Asia’s largest airports with a 1.8 km runway.
• It was used by Allied aircraft for supplying arms, manpower and ammunition to forces in
Burma and China during World War II.
• It was abandoned after the last flight “Vayudoot” from Dhubri to Guwahati took off in 1983.
1.2 NHAI exempts tankers carrying Liquid Medical Oxygen from toll fee
• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has recently exempted the user fee at Toll
Plazas for tankers and containers carrying Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) across National
Highways.
• In order to provide uninterrupted passage, containers carrying Liquid Medical Oxygen will be
treated at par with other emergency vehicles such as ambulances for a period of two
months or till further orders.
1.3 CCI approves internal restructuring of IBM Corporation

• Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Kyndryl Holdings and
Grand Ocean Managed Infrastructure Services' proposal for the internal restructuring of
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) Corporation under the green channel
route.
• About Green channel- It is an automatic approval system, whereby a combination is deemed
to have been approved by the CCI upon receiving the filing of the notice for the combination
by the parties concerned.
1.4 Government takes steps to ramp up availability of Amphotericin B

• The Government of India is engaging with the manufacturers to ramp up production of
“Amphotericin B” a drug actively prescribed by the physicians to patients suffering from
Mucormycosis.
• States have been requested to put in place a mechanism for equitable distribution of
supplies amongst Government and Private hospitals.
o The arrangements for supply will be monitored by National Pharmaceuticals Pricing
Authority (NPPA). NPPA is an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to
ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
1.5 Amazon India launches free video streaming service on shopping app
• Recently, in a global first for Amazon, Amazon India has launched miniTV- a free, ad-
supported video streaming service available within its shopping app.

1.6 Hero MotoCorp collaborates with Adloid for first fully digital showroom
• Recently, Hero MotoCorp has collaborated with Adloid- an augmented reality solutions
startup to launch its first fully digital showroom.
1.7 TCS launches cloud-based subscription solution for media clients

• Recently, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has launched cloud-based TCS’ Intelligent
Subscription solution built on SAP business technology platform for its media clients.
• TCS’ Intelligent Subscription solution enables to shift to subscription-based order-to-cash
processes for physical and digital content.
1.8 Google launches “Showcase” to train journalists in digital skills

• Recently, Google has announced the launch of “Google News Showcase” along with other
initiatives under its Google News Initiative (GNI).
• Google News Showcase -
o It will show content from Indian publisher partners in English and Hindi in dedicated
News Showcase panels in Google News and on Discover.
o It would be rolled out in India with 30 news publishers including national, regional
and local news organizations.
• Google has launched a programme to train 50,000 journalists in digital skills, and training
800 small and mid sized news organisations grow their digital ad revenue with GNI
advertising Lab.
• It will also launch the GNI Transformation Lab, a more comprehensive program for 20 local
small and mid-sized Indian news organizations to help them transform every aspect of their
business to succeed online.
1.9 6 Indian places added to tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites
• Ministry of Culture has recently announced that 6 Indian places have been added to
tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
• The sites are-
o Satpura Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh
o Iconic riverfront of the historic city of Varanasi
o Megalithic site of Hire Benkal in Karnataka
o Maratha Military Architecture in Maharashtra
o Bhedaghat-Lameta Ghat in Narmada Valley- Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh
o Temples of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu
• The submission for the list was made by the Archaeological Survey of India.
o It had submitted a proposal for India’s 9 places for inclusion in the tentative list of
UNESCO, where six sites have selected in Tentative Lists of UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
1.10 Government appoints inquiry committee to probe drifting of vessels due to cyclone
• Recently, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has constituted a 3-member High-
Level Committee comprising of-
o S.C.L. Das, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons

o Amitabh Kumar, Directorate General of Shipping
o Nazli Jafri Shayin, Joint Secretary Ministry of Defence
• The committee will inquire into the incident of several vessels drifting into the sea due to the
Cyclone Tauktae.
1.11 Government of India to set up 'Defence Enclave'

• The government will set up a large 'Defence Enclave' to house top defence brass and
personnel under its ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project.
• About Central Vista redevelopment project-
o It is an ambitious project of the central government to redevelop a 3.2-km stretch
called the Central Vista that lies at the heart of Lutyens Delhi built by the Britishers in
the 1930s.
o It involves demolishing and rebuilding several government buildings, including iconic
landmarks, and constructing a new Parliament at a total cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
1.12 Carlyle sells 4.2% in SBI Life

• Private equity (PE) major Carlyle has sold 4.2% in SBI Life Insurance Company.
• The share sale was done on BSE’s (Bombay Stock Exchange) pre-market block window at Rs
960 per share.
1.13 Government has launched indigenously-developed COVID-19 drug 2-DG

• Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced the
launch of the COVID – 19 drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG).
• This drug was indigenously developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences
(INMAS) and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.
• INMAS is a laboratory run by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The drug helped in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental
oxygen dependence.
1.14 National Gallery of Modern Art has started long summer workshop NAIMISHA 2021
• The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi is creating a virtual museum space
through its online summer programme NAIMISHA 2021.
• Workshops have been designed on painting, sculpture, print making, videography and
puppeteering and other related arts.
1.15 DST institute develops new multiplex RT-PCR kit

• A newly developed multiplex RT-PCR kit has a higher accuracy of detecting COVID-19 across
the various mutant strains of the virus responsible for the global pandemic.
• This kit is developed by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and
Technology (SCTIMST), an Institute of National Importance under the Department of
Science and Technology.
• ICMR has validated this kit at the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and found that it has
97.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity in covid19 detection.

1.16 Sports Ministry approves Rs 2.5 Lakh assistance to Powerlifting coach Joseph James
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) has approved an amount of Rs 2,50,000 for
international Powerlifting coach Joseph James under Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s
National Welfare for the Sportspersons.
• He was the winner of the Asian Games gold medal in 2006 and a gold at the Asian
Powerlifting Championship in 2008.
• This financial assistance comes under the jointly collaborated initiative from the Sports
Authority of India, Indian Olympic Association and the MYAS to support ex-international
athletes and coaches amid ongoing COVID-19.
1.17 PayPal has introduced digital Foreign Inward Remittance Advice

• PayPal, a global digital payments company, has introduced an automated process for
receiving Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA).
• It is a key document for Indian MSME exporters and freelancers that establishes proof of
receipt of export proceeds in foreign currency from outside the country.
• At zero-cost, merchants will now be able to download their monthly digital FIRA issued by
the bank, by simply logging into their PayPal account.
• This FIRA was otherwise coming at a cost close to ₹2,000 for every 20 international
transactions. This initiative is aimed at empowering Indian MSME exporters to seamlessly
grow their business internationally.
About PayPal:
• Headquarters: California, United States
• Chairman: John Donahoe
1.18 IDRBT is building next generation Digital Financial Infrastructure

• The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), an arm of
Reserve Bank of India, is building next generation Digital Financial Infrastructure.
• The National Digital Financial Infrastructure (NADI) would provide a roadmap and
framework for future digital financial services growth in the country.
• The NADI will consist of modern network infrastructure which includes 5G/Edge Cloud with
SDNs (software defined networking) for connecting to the critical data center infrastructure.
1.19 India & Oman have renewed MoUs on military cooperation & maritime issues
• India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military
cooperation as well as maritime issues.
About Oman
• Capital: Muscat
• Currency: Omani rial
1.20 DRDO has developed antibody detection kit for COVID-19

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an antibody
detection kit for spotting SARS-CoV-2 virus.

• The DIPCOVAN kit was developed indigenously by the scientists, followed by extensive
validation on more than 1,000 patient samples at various COVID designated hospitals in
Delhi.
• The antibody detection kit is approved by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in April
2021.
1.21 INS Jalashwa arrives with critical COVID relief consignment from Brunei and Singapore
• COVID Relief Operation 'Samudra Setu II’ has been launched by the Indian Navy.
• Under this Operation INS Jalashwa embarked with 18 Cryogenic Oxygen Tanks and other
critical COVID Medical Stores including 3650 Oxygen Cylinders and 39 Ventilators from
Brunei and Singapore, arrived at Visakhapatnam port.
1.22 INS Trikand arrives at Mumbai port with COVID relief material
• As part of ongoing COVID relief Operation 'Samudra Setu II’, INS Trikand has arrived at
Mumbai port on 23rd May with COVID relief material from Qatar.
• INS Trikand brought two Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) containers of 20 MT each and 100
Oxygen cylinders.
About Qatar:
• Capital: Doha
• Currency: Qatari riyal
1.23 India has organised first BRICS energy meet

• India has organized the first meeting of BRICS Senior Energy Officials under its presidency of
the five-nation group on 20th and 21st May.
• It has been announced in the energy meet that BRICS will work on renewable energy, energy
efficiency and smart grid.
• The meeting saw participation from officials of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.
1.24 Assam has appointed ‘guardian ministers’ for its various districts
• The Assam Cabinet has appointed ministers who would act as guardians for different
districts in the state.
• These guardians, each a minister of the Himanta Biswa Sarma Cabinet, have been given the
responsibility of 2-3 districts to take stock of welfare schemes, implementation of
infrastructure projects etc.
• The guardian ministers will be responsible for administration in the districts under their
charge.
1.25 SECI Organizes Online Yoga Workshop for Employees

• Recently, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), has organized an online yoga workshop
for all its employees to engage them in group activity while providing for their health, stress
management and fitness.

1.26 CCI approves acquisition of YES Bank’s Mutual Fund Subsidiaries by GPL Finance and
Investments Limited
• Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of 100%
equity shares of YES Asset Management India Limited (YES AMC) and YES Trustee Limited
(YES Trustee) by GPL Finance and Investments Limited (GPL).
• By way of acquisitions, GPL will acquire Yes Mutual Fund and become its sole sponsor.
About GPL:
• GPL is a part of the White Oak Group, an investment management and investment advisory
group.
• Founder of White Oak group: Prashant Khemka
1.27 CCI nods Adani Ports' acquisition of additional 25% stake in Adani Krishnapatnam Port
• Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition
of additional 25% shareholding of Adani Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh by Adani
Ports and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Ltd.
• Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd already holds 75% shareholding of the Krishnapatnam Port.
• Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd is engaged as a developer and operator of an all-weather,
deepwater multi-purpose port at Krishnapatnam under Build-Operate-Share-Transfer
concession from the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
1.28 Export of GI certified Gholvad Sapota (chikoo) to UK begins

• Recently, a consignment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Dahanu Gholvad Sapota
from Palghar district, Maharashtra has been shipped to the United Kingdom (UK).
• GI certification of Gholvad Sapota is held by Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh.
• The fruit is famous for unique taste derived from calcium rich soil of Gholvad village, Palghar
district.
Additional Information:
• Karnataka is known to be the highest grower of Sapota, followed by Maharashtra.
1.29 EPCH organizes 51st IHGF –Delhi Fair-2021

• Recently, the 51st IHGF (Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair) –Delhi Fair-2021 has been organized
during 19th - 23rd May, 2021.
• During the events Webinars on topics such as “Quick Ways to Optimise Forex Operations in
Turbulent Times “and “Seven easy ways to Grow your Exports” have been organized.
About IHGF:
• IHGF is a biannual event, organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
• It is India’s largest Virtual Fair in the Home, Fashion, Lifestyle, Textiles and Furniture sector
and an exclusive B2B online platform to assist buyers across the globe to source from India.
• Estimated figures for exports of handicrafts during April 2020-March 2021: Rs. 25558.94
crores (USD 3443.45 million) registering a growth of 1.14 % (Rupee terms) and decline (-)3.39
% (dollar terms) over the corresponding period in the previous year.

1.30 POWERGRID takes initiatives to fight COVID
• Recently, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has undertaken the
following initiatives to fight COVID-19:
o Under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), POWERGRID had handed over nine
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Ventilators amounting Rs 1,14,30,000/- to Government
Medical College, Chandrapur.
o 5000 Masks & 500 bottles of hand sanitizers have been handed over to Additional
District Magistrate (ADM), Angul in Orissa.
o Ambulance handed over to Vadodara Municipal Corporation.
o New isolation center in Manesar established for the superannuated employees and
their families.
o Capacity of the isolation center in Gurugram has been increased.
o Vaccination camps organized for its employees and their family members across all
its establishments in India.
o Complimentary meal service to all the affected employees and their families.
International News
1.31 WHO approves China's Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently approved the Sinopharm Covid-19
vaccine for emergency use.
• The two-dose vaccine has become the first Chinese vaccine and overall, sixth vaccine to
receive the WHO's validation for safety, efficacy and quality.
1.32 SpaceX accepts dogecoin as payment to launch lunar mission next year
• Recently, SpaceX has announced to accept the meme-inspired cryptocurrency “dogecoin” as
payment and will launch the "DOGE-1 Mission to the Moon" in the first quarter of 2022.
• This mission will demonstrate the application of cryptocurrency beyond Earth orbit and set
the foundation for interplanetary commerce.
1.33 CCI approves proposed acquisition Ingram Micro Inc. by Imola Acquisition Corporation
• Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition
of 100% shareholding and sole control of Ingram Micro Inc. by Imola Acquisition
Corporation.
• Additional information-
o Imola is a newly incorporated entity belonging to Platinum Equity Group. Platinum
Equity Group specialises in the merger, acquisition and operation of companies that
provide services and solutions to customers in a broad range of businesses.
o Ingram Micro is a US Headquartered IT company.
1.34 Israel’s Iron Dome aerial defence system intercepts Hamas UAV
• Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has recently stated that the Iron Dome aerial defence system
intercepted a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) fired by Hamas from Gaza all the way into
Israel.

• Iron Dome is a multi-mission system capable of intercepting rockets, artillery, mortars and
Precision Guided Munitions over short ranges of up to 70 km.
1.35 OneWeb partners SoftBank to roll out satellite communication services

• SoftBank Corp and Sunil Mittal-backed OneWeb have announced an agreement for mutual
cooperation to promote OneWeb's satellite communication services in the global and Japan
markets.
• They will promote satellite communication services via the combination of OneWeb
services and SoftBank's services, including advanced communication and Digital
Transformation (DX) platform services.
1.36 Texas House passes contentious ‘heartbeat bill’ restricting abortion

• Recently, Texas House has passed the contentious ‘heartbeat bill’ restricting abortion the
moment a fetal heartbeat is detected.
• The bill would ban abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
• It will also enable private citizens sue abortion providers or anybody else who knowingly
“aids or abets” an abortion in violation to the ban.
• The measure includes an exception if the life of the woman is in danger.
1.37 Yoweri Museveni takes oath as Uganda’s President

• Recently, Yoweri Museveni has sworn in for his sixth term as the President of Uganda, who
has ruled continuously since taking power as a rebel leader in 1986.
About Uganda:
• Capital: Kampala
• Currency: Ugandan Shilling
1.38 Senior Hamas commander killed as Israel strikes Gaza

• Recently, 16 members of the Hamas military wing have been killed in Gaza in Palestine in an
air strike by Israel.
• Hamas is a militant Palestinian Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip.
1.39 Harley-Davidson launches all-electric motorcycle brand

• Recently, Harley-Davidson has launched an all-electric motorcycle brand "LiveWire”, named
after the company’s first electric motorbike unveiled in 2019.
About Harley Davidson:
• Headquarters: Wisconsin, U.S
• CEO & Chairman: Jochen Zeitz
1.40 US House passes anti-Asian hate crimes bill

• Recently, the US House has passed the legislation “COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act” to counter a
rise in anti-Asian hate crimes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• The bill would create a new position at the Justice Department to expedite review of
potential Covid-19-related hate crimes and incidents reported at the federal, state or local
level.

1.41 Google to open its first physical retail store in New York
• Recently, Google has announced to open its first-ever physical retail store in New York.
• The store will allow customers to experience its hardware and services in a helpful way.
• It will also allow customers to browse and buy an extensive selection of products made by
Google.
1.42 Japan mulls alternatives to Suez Canal

• Recently, Japan has considered two alternatives to Suez Canal.
• The two potential alternatives, both of them reliant on Russia are-
o Trans-Siberian Railway and the Northern Sea Route.
1.43 Credit Suisse has announced to hire over 1,000 IT employees in India in 2021
• The Swiss bank, Credit Suisse has announced that the hires will comprise of developers and
engineers who have capabilities in emerging technologies such as cybersecurity, data
analytics, cloud, API development, machine learning and artificial intelligence that are
anchored in Agile and DevOps delivery methods, to support the bank’s digital aspirations.
• They will also provide ₹7.5 crore ($1 million) in aid to Concern India Foundation and
GiveIndia, to provide assistance to hospitals in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Bengaluru for the
medical supplies.
• In addition to a fundraising a separate donation from its staff raised more than ₹2.8 crore
($370,000) to GiveIndia’s India Covid Response Fund.
1.44 Russia and China have started their biggest Nuclear Power Project
• Russia and China will hold the ground-breaking ceremony of their biggest nuclear energy
project under which Moscow would jointly build four high power nuclear power plants in
two Chinese cities.
• Both the countries signed a package cooperation deal in 2018 and agreed to jointly build
units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant and units 3 and 4 of Xudapu Nuclear
Power Plant with a total contract value of over 20 billion yuan (about USD 3 billion).
• The Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant is located in the city of Lianyungang in Jiangsu province
and the Xudapu Nuclear Power plant is located in Xingcheng in Liaoning province.
1.45 US: Biden administration approves nation's first major offshore wind farm
• The Biden administration has announced its final approval of the nation’s first commercial-
scale offshore wind farm.
• 30,000 megawatts Vineyard Wind project located 23 km off the coast of Massachusetts will
be built in the United States by 2030 and will create enough electricity to power 400,000
homes.
1.46 China has launched new ocean observation satellite Haiyang-2D

• China has successfully sent a new ocean-monitoring satellite into orbit.
• Aim: To build ocean environment monitoring system which would provide early warning on
marine disasters.

• The satellite was launched by a long March-4B rocket carrying the Haiyang-2D (HY-
2D) satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China.
• The HY-2D will form a constellation with the HY-2B and HY-2C satellites to build an all-
weather and round-the-clock dynamic ocean environment monitoring system.
• The HY-2D was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, and the carrier
rocket by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.
1.47 India loses ONGC-discovered Farzad-B gas field in Iran

• Recently, India has lost the ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) Videsh Ltd discovered
Farzad-B Gas Field in Iranian side of the Persian Gulf.
• The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a contract worth USD 1.78 billion with a
local company- Petropars Group for the development of Farzad B Gas Field.
• Farsi block is spread across 3,500 square kilometers.

• The Consortium of OVL has so far invested around USD 400 million in the block.
1.48 WEF cancels 2021 annual meeting in Singapore due to Covid

• Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has cancelled its 2021 annual meeting
scheduled for Singapore in August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The event had already been rescheduled twice and moved to Singapore from Davos,
Switzerland.
• WEF has informed that the annual meeting would instead take place in 2022.
About World Economic Forum:
• Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland
• Founder & Executive Chairman: Klaus Schwab
Appointments
1.49 Gunjan Shah appointed as new CEO of Bata India
• Recently, India's largest footwear retailer Bata India Ltd., has announced the appointment of
Gunjan Shah as its new chief executive officer (CEO).
• He will succeed Sandeep Kataria who has been elevated as the global CEO of Bata Brands last
year.

1.50 Martin Griffiths appointed as UN humanitarian chief
• Recently, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed
veteran British diplomat Martin Griffiths, a seasoned negotiator with wide global
experience, as the new UN humanitarian chief.
o He will replace Mark Lowcock.
• He is presently serving as the UN's special envoy for Yemen.
1.51 Elisabetta Belloni named as first woman to head Italy secret service
• Recently, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi has announced Elisabetta Belloni as head of
the Department of Information Security (DIS).
• The department oversees the country's foreign and domestic intelligence services and
reports directly to the Italian government.
1.52 Manisha Kapoor joins executive committee of ICAS

• Recently, Manisha Kapoor has been appointed to the executive committee of the
International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS).
• She will be one of the four global vice-presidents on the executive committee till 2023.
• She is currently serving as the general secretary of Advertising Standards Council of India
(ASCI).
1.53 Indian-American Neera Tanden appointed White House senior adviser

• Recently, Indian-American Neera Tanden has been appointed senior adviser to U.S.
President.
• She is currently serving as the President and CEO of Center for American Progress (CAP).
1.54 S Balachandran has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Suriname
• S. Balachandran, presently Consul General of India in Jaffna (Sri Lanka), has been appointed
as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Suriname.
About Suriname:
• Capital: Paramaribo
• Currency: Suriname Dollar
1.55 Padmakumar M Nair has been appointed as the CEO of NARCL

• Padmakumar M Nair, Chief General Manager of Stressed Assets Resolution Group at SBI,
will head the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL), the proposed bad bank
for taking over stressed assets of lenders.
• Bad bank refers to a financial institution that takes over bad assets of lenders and
undertakes resolution.
1.56 Narinder Batra has been re-elected as FIH president

• Narinder Batra has been re-elected as the president of the International Hockey Federation
(FIH).
• He has defeated Belgium’s Marc Coudron by 63-61 of 124 votes polled during the 47th FIH
Congress and is re-elected till 2024.
• Narinder Batra became the first Indian to head the international federation of an Olympic
sport in 2016.
About International Hockey Federation:
• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
• CEO: Thierry Weil
• Founded: 7 January 1924, Paris, France
1.57 Justice Alok Kumar Verma has been appointed as the Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court
• The President of India, under clause (l) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, appointed
Justice Alok Kumar Verma, Additional Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court, to be a Judge of
the Uttarakhand High Court.
1.58 Vikas Bahl appointed as Additional Judge of Punjab & Haryana High Court
• The President of India, under the clause (l) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, has
appointed Shri Vikas Bahl, to be an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court,
for a period of two years.
1.59 Subodh Kumar Jaiswal has been appointed as the Director of CBI
• Senior IPS officer from Maharashtra Subodh Kumar Jaiswal has been appointed as the new
Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of two years.
Persons in News
1.60 Moscow Olympic gold medallist Ravinder Pal Singh passes away
• Former India hockey player Ravinder Pal Singh, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics-
winning side, has passed away recently.
• He was from the state of Uttar Pradesh.
1.61 Himanta Biswa Sarma takes oath as chief minister of Assam

• Recently, Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken oath as the 15th chief minister of Assam.
• He has succeeded Sarbananda Sonowal as the Chief Minister of Assam.
• Additional Information- Assam Assembly Elections 2021 has been held recently on 126
constituencies of the state.
1.62 Eminent sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra passes away

• Odisha’s Eminent sculptor and Rajya Sabha member Padma Vibhushan Raghunath
Mohapatra has passed away recently.
1.63 Epidemiologist Smarajit Jana passes away

• Epidemiologist Dr Smarajit Jana, who helped the children of sex workers a chance to fight
discrimination through football, and was the founder of the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya
Samiti, has passed away recently.
• He was also a member of the National Task Force on COVID-19.

1.64 Amritsar MP Raghunandan Lal Bhatia passes away
• Senior Congress leader and six-time MP from Amritsar (Punjab), Raghunandan Lal Bhatia
has passed away recently.
• He had also served as the Governor of Kerala and Bihar from 2004 to 2008 and 2008 to 2009,
respectively.
1.65 Freedom fighter & INA veteran Lalti Ram passes away
• Freedom fighter from Haryana, and veteran of the erstwhile Indian National Army (INA) Lalti
Ram has passed away recently.
1.66 Industrialist Kantisen Shroff passes away

• Gujarat Industrialist, Shri Kantisen Shroff, who contributed a lot for the upliftment of small
artisans, has passed away recently.
1.67 Arjuna awardee V Chandrasekhar passes away

• Arjuna award-winning former India table tennis player V Chandrasekhar from Chennai, has
passed away recently.
1.68 Sudhir Sitapati steps down as HUL's Executive Director

• Sudhir Sitapati has recently stepped down as Executive Director of FMCG major Hindustan
Unilever (HUL).
• He will be replaced by Srinandan Sundaram as part of top level management changes.
1.69 Assamese litterateur Homen Borgohain passes away

• Sahitya Akademi awardee Noted Assamese litterateur and journalist Homen Borgohain has
• He was presently serving as the editor-in-chief of Assamese daily Niyomiya Barta.
1.70 Sitar player Prateek Chaudhuri passes away

• Renowned sitar player Prateek Chaudhuri has passed away recently.
• He was the son of legendary music maestro Pandit Devbrata Chaudhuri, who passed away
recently.
1.71 Swadhin Bangla Bangla Betar artist Anup Bhattacharya passes away
• Freedom fighter and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra musician Anup Bhattacharya has passed
away recently in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• He was considered a prominent voice of the modern Bangladeshi music genre.
1.72 Ruskin Bond’s new book to be out on his 87th birthday

• Recently, Ruskin Bond’s new book titled “All Time Favourites for Children” has been
released on his 87th birthday on 19th May.
1.73 Noted Journalist Sunil Jain passes away

• Noted Journalist Shri Sunil Jain, who was the Managing Editor of the business newspaper
Financial Express, has passed away recently.

1.74 Former Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti passes away
• Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former Jathedar of Akal
Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti.
• He served as jathedar of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs from 2000 to 2008.
1.75 Former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta passes away

• Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta has
• He served as Union Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation between October 13, 1999
and September 1, 2001, Union Minister of State (independent charge), Ministry of Food
Processing Industries (September 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002) and Union Minister of State for
Defence (July 1, 2002 to 2004).
1.76 Bernard Arnault becomes world’s second-richest person

• According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Tesla Inc.’s chief executive officer Elon Musk
lost his spot as the world’s second-richest person to LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault.
• Top-3 rankings is as below-
1. Jeff Bezos (Amazon)
2. Bernard Arnault (LVMH)
3. Elon Musk (Tesla Inc)
1.77 Pinarayi Vijayan takes oath as Chief Minister of Kerala

• Recently, Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister.
• This is the second time Vijayan has become the chief minister of Kerala.
1.78 Former NSG Director General Jyoti Krishan Dutt passes away
• Former Director General of the National Security Guards (NSG), Jyoti Krishan Dutt, who
headed the force during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, has passed away recently.
• NSG stated that he will always be remembered for his leadership during Operation Black
Tornado to kill the 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists during 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008.
1.79 Former Managing Director of Numaligarh Refinery Limited RK Dutta passes away
• RK Dutta, the first Managing Director of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, has passed away
recently.
1.80 ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming to step down as CEO

• Zhang Yiming, founder of TikTok owner ByteDance, Chinese tech giant, has announced to
step down as chief executive officer (CEO).
• He will be succeeded by human resource chief Liang Rubo.
1.81 Famous Mathematician MS Narasimhan passes away

• Indian mathematician, Professor MS Narasimhan has passed away.
• Professor Narasimhan, along with C. S. Seshadri, were known for their proof of
the Narasimhan–Seshadri theorem.
• He is the only Indian to receive the King Faisal International Prize in the field of science.

1.82 Times Group chairperson Indu Jain passes away.
• She was the founder president of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), established in 1983 to
promote entrepreneurship and professional excellence among women in India.
1.83 Former Rajasthan CM Jagannath Pahadia passes away

• Veteran Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Jagannath Pahadia passed
away.
1.84 Environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna passes away

• Well-known environmentalist and Gandhian Sunderlal Bahuguna passed away.
• He, along with local women, founded the Chipko movement in the 1970’S to prevent the
felling of trees in the ecologically sensitive zones.
• The movement’s success led to enactment of a law to ban the felling of trees in ecologically
sensitive forest lands and coined the Chipko slogan: 'ecology is permanent economy'.
• He was also honored with 'Padma Vibhushan' award.
1.85 Ex-CBI officer K Ragothaman, who probed Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, passes away
• Former CBI officer K Ragothaman, who was the Chief Investigating Officer in the Rajiv
Gandhi assassination case passed away.
• He had penned a few books, including on Gandhi's sensational killing and also produced a
documentary titled 'Human Bomb'.
1.86 Renowned music composer Vanraj Bhatia passes away

• Veteran music director and National Award winner Vanraj Bhatia.
• He is called the foremost composer of western classical music of India.
• He was honored with Padma Shri Award in 2021.
1.87 First Dronacharya awardee coach in boxing O.P. Bhardwaj passes away
• India’s first Dronacharya awardee coach in boxing, O P Bhardwaj passed away.
• He was bestowed the highest national honour in coaching jointly with Bhalchandra Bhaskar
Bhagwat (wrestling) and O M Nambiar (athletics), when it was introduced in 1985.
• Bhardwaj was India’s national boxing coach from 1968 to 1989 and also served as a national
selector.
1.88 Former Atomic Energy Commission of India Chief Srikumar Banerjee passes away
• The former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, Dr. Srikumar Banerjee, has
passed away.
• He has also served as the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for six
years till 2010.
• Dr Banerjee was honored with Padma Shri award in 2005 and the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar
Award in 1989 for his exceptional service in the field of science, especially in the areas of
atomic energy and metallurgy.
1.89 Saxophone artiste Machendranath Pandeshwar passes away

• Saxophone artiste Machendranath Pandeshwar passed away.

• He was awarded the District Rajyotsava Award.
1.90 Shahid Jameel quits as chairman of INSACOG

• Recently, Virologist Dr. Shahid Jameel has quit the chairmanship of Indian SARS-CoV-2
Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
• He is currently serving as the Director of the Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka
University.
Science and Technology

1.91 OSIRIS-REx spacecraft starts trip back to Earth after collecting asteroid samples
• OSIRIS-REx spacecraft of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has started
trip back to Earth after collecting samples from asteroid “Bennu”.
o OSIRIS-REx arrived at Bennu in year 2018 and will take two year to come back to
Earth.
• The spacecraft has attempted to complete a mission to visit asteroid, some 320 million km
from Earth, survey the surface, collect samples and deliver them back to Earth.
1.92 NASA & Axiom agree to first Private Astronaut Mission on International Space Station
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Axiom Space have signed an
order for the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• The mission, dubbed Ax-1, is expected to see a private crew of four launch in a SpaceX Crew
Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as
soon as January 2022.
• Aboard the Ax-1 mission are Michael Lopex-Alegria (commander of the mission), Larry
Connor, Mark Pathy and Eytan Stibbe.
1.93 NASA's giant Webb telescope succeeds in key pre-launch test

• Recently, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA’s) James Webb Space
Telescope succeeded in its key pre-launch test as the world's largest and most powerful
space telescope unfolded its giant golden mirror for the last time on Earth.
• Telescope's 21 feet 4 inch (6.5 meter) mirror was commanded to fully expand and lock itself
into place.
1.94 NASA's Voyager 1 detects eerie hum of interstellar space

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA’s) Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched
in September 1977, has recently detected the eerie hum of interstellar space.
• The Voyager 1 is currently located about 22.7 billion km from Earth, has detected a faint
monotonous hum caused by the constant vibrations of the small amounts of gas found in
the near-emptiness of interstellar space.
1.95 China completes historic Mars spacecraft landing

• Recently, Tianwen-1 spacecraft has successfully landed on a vast plain known as Utopia
Planitia on planet Mars, making China the second nation after the USA to land on Red
Planet.

• Tianwen-1, or "Questions to Heaven", after a Chinese poem, is China's first independent
mission to Mars
• Solar-powered rover-Zhurong, named after Chinese God of Fire, would survey the landing
site.
• If Zhurong is successfully deployed, China would be the first country to orbit, land and
release a rover in its maiden mission to Mars.
• China is also testing reusable spacecraft and planning to establish manned lunar research
station.
Note: The first successful landing ever to Mars was made by NASA's Viking 1 in July 1976.
1.96 United Launch Alliance successfully launches SBIRS GEO Flight 5 Mission
• Recently, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Space Based Infrared
System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SBIRS GEO) Flight 5 mission for the U.S. Space Force's
Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) lifted off.
• To date ULA has launched 144 times with 100 percent mission success.
• This was the 87th launch of the Atlas V rocket.
1.97 China launches more classified Yaogan satellites into orbit

• Recently, China has conducted two launches of classified Yaogan satellites as Long March 2C
rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China.
• With this, China has send the eighth trio of Yaogan-30 satellites into a 370-mile-altitude
(600 kilometers) orbit.
o The satellites will be used for electromagnetic environment surveys and other
related technology tests.
• Also aboard the flight was Tianqi-12, a small satellite for Internet of Things (IoT) data
connectivity for the Beijing-based commercial company Guodian Gaoke.
1.98 SN 15, prototype of the futuristic Starship rocket makes successful launch and landing
• Recently, Serial number 15 (SN15), a prototype of the futuristic Starship rocket, was able to
launch and successfully land, heralding a new era in space exploration for NASA.
• Starship, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, is a spacecraft and super-heavy
booster rocket meant to act as a reusable transportation system for crew and cargo to the
Earth’s orbit, Moon and Mars.
• SpaceX has described Starship as “the world’s most powerful launch vehicle” with an ability
to carry over 100 metric tonnes to the Earth’s orbit.
1.99 IIT Guwahati team has developed smart window materials for automatic climate control
of buildings
• Dr. Debabrata Sikdar, Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Electrical
Engineering, along with his research scholar, Ashish Kumar Chowdhary from IIT Guwahati,
have designed a smart window material for automatic climate control of buildings.
• The smart window will effectively control the amount of heat and light passing through it in
response to an applied voltage and would ultimately help in developing efficient automatic
climate control.

1.100 Reliance Jio to build largest international submarine cable system centred on India
• Recently, Reliance Jio has announced the first of its kind construction of the largest
international submarine cable system centred on India with global partners and submarine
cable supplier Subcom to cater the increased data demand.
• Under the project, Reliance Jio is deploying the two next-generation cables viz,:
o India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) system: connects India to Asia Pacific markets with express
connectivity from Mumbai and Chennai to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
o India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) system: extends India's connectivity to Italy, landing in
Savona, and additional landings in the Middle East and North Africa.
• The submarine cable system would provide more than 200 Tbps (Tera bits per second)
capacity, spanning over 16,000 kilometres.
• IAX & IEX are expected to be completed by 2023 & 2024 respectively.
1.101 RRI scientists develops low cost magnetometer to measure unknown magnetic fields
• Recently, scientists from Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, an autonomous
institute of the Department of Science & Technology in a new study have devised a more
efficient, faster, and low-cost Digital Receiver System (DRS) that can make precise
measurements of magnetic fields.
• It is a two component DRS that works as an atomic magnetometer.
• DRS costs less than $350 for all the silicon-based hardware and associated software.
• Study Supported by: Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology.
• It has been published in the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement journal.
Note: Magnetometer is used to measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the
vicinity of the instrument.
Environment
1.102 Cyclone Tauktae hits Karnataka coast
• Recently, the Cyclonic storm Tauktae (pronounced as Tau’Te) has hit the Karnataka coast.
• The storm has brought heavy rains with gusty winds in the region.
1.103 Blood Moon on 26th May 2021

• The first Total Lunar Eclipse of 2021 will be visible on 26th of May, also called a Blood Moon
as the moon appears slightly reddish-orange in colour.
• The total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon,
blocking the sun’s rays from directly reaching the Moon.
1.104 Deep-sea Pacific Football fish washes up on California beach

• Recently, Pacific Football fish that is usually found in the deep sea washed ashore on a
California beach, US.

1.105 World’s largest iceberg has broken off from Antarctica
• A huge ice block named A-76 has broken off from western Antarctica into the Weddell Sea,
becoming the largest iceberg in the world, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
• The iceberg, measuring around 170 km long and 25 km wide, with an area of 4,320 sq km is
floating in the Weddell Sea.
• It is larger than the Spanish island of Majorca, according to the U.S. National Ice Center.
Days in News
1.106 Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2021
• Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti is being celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of
Rabindranath Tagore on 7th of May.
• Rabindranath Tagore got the Nobel Prize for Gitanjali in 1913.
1.107 PM Modi pays tribute to Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his Jayanti

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tribute to great freedom fighter Gopal
Krishna Gokhale on his Jayanti on 9th of May 2021.
1.108 Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2021

• Maharana Pratap Jayanti is being celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Hindu
king Maharana Pratap on 09th of May.
• He was a great Hindu king who fought against the Mughals.
1.109 UN Adopts May 10th as International Day of Argania

• Recently, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution
proclaiming May 10th of each year as the International Day of Argania.
• The resolution submitted by Morocco, was co-sponsored by 113 member states of the UN &
and adopted by consensus.
Background:
• Argan tree is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco.

• In 1998, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has
designated the endemic production areas of Argan Trees as the Arganeraie Biosphere
Reserve.
• All know-how about the argan tree was inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO Representative
List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognized the Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral
system within the area of Ait Souab - Ait Mansour in Morocco as a Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage System in 2018.
1.110 Sikkim celebrates statehood day on 16th May

• Indian state, Sikkim has celebrated its statehood day on 16th May.
• It marks the day in 1975 when Sikkim transitioned to become the 22nd state of India from
being a monarchy earlier.
1.111 International Day of Light: 16th May

• The International Day of Light is being celebrated every year on 16th May to celebrate the
role light plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development.
• It also commemorates the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960
by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.
• The message of the International Day of Light 2021 — Trust Science.
1.112 International Day of Living Together in Peace: 16th May

• International Day of Living Together in Peace is being celebrated every year on 16th May.
• Aim- To uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in
order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.
1.113 World Hypertension Day: 17th May

• World hypertension Day is observed on 17th May.
• Theme for 2021: Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.
• Aim: To spread awareness about hypertension disease, its prevention, detection, and
control.
1.114 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: 17th May

• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed on 17th May every
year.
• The day is also celebrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865, the occasion on which the first
International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris, France.
• Theme for 2021: Accelerating Digital Transformation in challenging times.
• Aim: To highlight the role of Information and Communication Technology in today’s world.
1.115 International Museum Day: 18th May

• International Museum Day is observed on 18th May every year.
• Theme for 2021: The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine.

• Aim: To let people know the significant role played by museums in preserving the culture
and heritage of countries.
1.116 World Aids Vaccine Day: 18th May

• World AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is observed annually on May 18 to
promote the continued and urgent need for a vaccine to prevent HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus) infection and AIDS.
1.117 World Bee Day: 20th May

• World Bee Day is being celebrated every year on 20th May to raise awareness of the
importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable
development.
• Theme for year 2021- Bee engaged: build Back Better for Bees
1.118 World Metrology Day: 20th May

• World Metrology Day is being celebrated on 20th May.
• Theme for year 2021- Measurement for Health
• World Metrology Day is an annual celebration of the signature of the Metre Convention on
20 May 1875 by representatives of seventeen nations.
o The Convention set the framework for global collaboration in the science of
measurement and in its industrial, commercial and societal applications.
1.119 12th Founding Day of Competition Commission of India

• Recently, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman
commemorated the 12th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
o She also released ‘CCI Journal on Competition Law and Policy’ and CCI’s Competition
Advocacy Booklets translated into Bengali, Marathi and Tamil languages.
• The CCI was established under the Competition Act, 2002, on 20th May, 2009.
• The Annual Day commemoration also featured a half day workshop on Competition Law.
1.120 National Anti Terrorism Day: 21st May

• National Anti Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 to commemorate the death anniversary
of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi.
• Aim: To spread the message of peace, harmony, and humankind and to promote unity
among the people.
• He was appointed as the sixth Prime Minister of the country and served the nation
from 1984 to 1989.
• Mr Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a human bomb. He was killed in Tamil
Nadu.
1.121 International Tea Day: 21st May

• International Tea Day is being celebrated every year on 21st May to promote and foster
collective actions to implement activities in favour of the sustainable production and
consumption of tea.
1.122 International Thyroid Awareness Week and World Thyroid Day: 24th to 29th May
• World Thyroid Day (WTD) 2021 is observed on 25th May every year.
• International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW) is observed from 24 to 29 May 2021.
• Theme for 2021: “Mother-BabyIodine: The Importance of Iodine on the Woman and her
Baby”.
• Aim: To raise awareness on Iodine Deficiency Disorders on women of reproductive age,
especially pregnant and lactating mothers, and on children during their first 1000 days of life
from conception.
1.123 Vesak Day 2021 observed globally: 26th May

• Vesak Day is observed globally on 26 May.
• Vesak, the Day of Full Moon, is the most sacred day to Buddhists all over the world.
• On this day, Lord Gautham Buddha attained enlightenment.
• The Day is commemorated by the United Nations every year.
Defence in News
1.124 IAF covid air Support Management Cell (CASMC) Operations
• The India Air Force (IAF) is operating a Covid Air Support Management Cell (CASMC) at
Palam Air Base, Delhi.
• Aim- To efficiently coordinate for the distribution of all the relief aid coming from foreign
countries.
1.125 First batch of Women Military Police inducted into Indian Army
• Recently, the Corps of Military Police Centre & School (CMP C &S) at Bengaluru, Karnataka,
has held the attestation parade of the first batch of 83 women soldiers.
1.126 BEML unveils mechanical minefield marking equipment for Indian Army
• Recently, BEML has rolled out the first prototype of mechanical minefield marking
equipment “Mk-II”.
• It has been built on BEML TATRA 6x6, developed through Technology of Transfer (ToT) from
Research & Development Establishment Engineers (R&DE Engineers), Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It is designed for marking the mine fields at faster rate, semi-automatically with minimal
human intervention.
• It is capable of marking/fencing at a minimum rate of 1.2 km/hr with inter-picket spacing of
15 m.
1.127 INS Rajput has been decommissioned on 21 May 2021

• First destroyer of the Indian Navy, INS Rajput, has been decommissioned on 21st May at a
solemn ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
• INS Rajput, was the lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers.
• It was built by the erstwhile USSR and was commissioned on 04 May 1980 in Poti, Georgia.

• The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment –
the Rajput Regiment.
1.128 Indian Navy designs Oxygen Recycling System

• Recently, the Diving School of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy has
designed an Oxygen Recycling System (ORS) to alleviate the Oxygen (O2) shortage.
• The ORS is designed to extend the life of the existing medical O2 cylinders two to four
times, as only a small percentage of O2 inhaled is absorbed by the lungs, & the rest is
exhaled into the atmosphere along with carbon-dioxide (CO2) produced by the body.
• The overall cost of the ORS prototype has been capped at Rs 10,000.
Sports
1.129 Lewis Hamilton claims his 100th career pole position
• Seven-time World champion Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula One driver to take
100 pole positions.
• He achieved the feat after lapping fastest to qualify for Spanish Grand Prix.
• The milestone puts him 32 pole positions ahead of the retired Ferrari great and fellow seven-
time champion Michael Schumacher second on the list with 68.
1.130 Aryna Sabalenka wins Madrid Open

• Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka has recently defeated the World No. 1 tennis player Ashleigh Barty
to win the Madrid Open.
1.131 Alexander Zverev wins his second Madrid Open title

• Recently, German tennis player, Alexander Zverev defeated Matteo Berrettini to win his
second Madrid Open title.
1.132 Bhavani Devi becomes India’s first Olympic-bound Fencer

• Recently, Sabre Fencer Bhavani Devi from Chennai, has created history by becoming the
first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympic Games.
1.133 Tennis star Barbora Strycova announces retirement

• Recently, Czech player Barbora Strycova, a former top-ranked doubles player and
Wimbledon singles semifinalist, has announced her retirement.
1.134 India retains top spot in ICC Test Team rankings

• India has retained the number one Test side after the annual update of the ICC team
rankings, followed by New Zealand on the second position, and England on the third place.
1.135 New Zealand to host women’s 2021 Rugby World Cup

• New Zealand is going to host the women’s 2021 Rugby World Cup in year 2022.
• Eden Park will also create history as the first venue to host both men’s and women’s Rugby
World Cup finals.

1.136 Saul Alvarez beats Joe Saunders to unify super middleweight titles
• Saul “Canelo" Alvarez defeated Billy Joe Saunders in eight rounds to unify three super
middleweight titles.
• Alvarez retained his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles and also
seized the Saunders’ World Boxing Organization belt.
1.137 Manchester City crowned Premier League champions

• In the English Premier League, Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions
for the third time in four seasons.
• This is Manchester City's fourth Premier League title.
1.138 Future Generali launches mental health campaign with sports icons
• Recently, Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited (FGII) has launched the third
phase of its #HealthInsideOut campaign.
• In this phase, Future Generali is featuring India’s sports icons in a five-part video series
called ‘Mind Matters’, conceptualized by advertising agency What’s Your Problem (a
Wondrlab company).
• The series features the stories of Indian Football team & Bengaluru FC captain Sunil
Chhetri, tennis player Sania Mirza, cricketers Robin Uthappa & Cheteshwar Pujara and
shooter Abhinav Bindra.
1.139 Gurjoat Singh Khangura shot two perfect rounds of 25 in Shotgun Worldcup
• Recently, Gurjoat Singh Khangura shot two perfect rounds of 25 to lead with nine others on
50 in men’s skeet in the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy.
1.140 Sports Ministry has approved Rs 2 Lakh assistance to Arjuna Award Winner V Tejaswini Bai
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) has approved an amount of Rs 2 Lakh for
Karnataka's V Tejaswini Bai.
• She has won the Arjuna Award in 2011 and was a member of the Women’s Kabaddi team
that won gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games respectively.
• The financial assistance has been approved from the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National
Welfare Fund for the Sportspersons, under the ongoing jointly collaborated initiative from
the Sports Authority of India, Indian Olympic Association and the MYAS to support ex-
international athletes and coaches amid ongoing COVID-19.
1.141 Rafael Nadal wins Italian Open 2021

• Recently, World No. 3 Rafael Nadal (Spain) has won his 10th Italian Open title by defeating
World No.1 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in Rome.
• With this victory, Rafael Nadal has also equalled Novak Djokovic’s record of 36 Association
of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Masters 1000 titles.
1.142 NBA creates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award

• Recently, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has created a new social justice award
to recognize the efforts of players to uphold values of racial equality, diversity and inclusion.

• The award has been named after American Basketball player and civil rights activist Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar.
• Rewards: winner would receive $100,000 and other four finalists would receive $25,000
each for charity.
1.143 High jumper Tejaswin Shankar clinches gold at outdoor meet in US

• Indian high jumper Tejaswin Shankar has claimed a gold medal at the Big 12 Outdoor Track
and Field Championships in Manhattan, USA.
• Representing Kanasas State University, Tejaswin cleared 2.28 meters, making a facility
record.
• University of Oklahoma's Vernon Turner (2.25m) and Texas Tech University's Jequan Hogan
(2.11m) claimed the silver and bronze respectively.
• This was Tejaswin's second successive gold at the event.
Awards
1.144 Nagaland conservationist Nuklu Phom gets prestigious Whitley Awards 2021
• Nuklu Phom, an environmentalist from Nagaland’s remote Longleng district, has won
Whitley Awards 2021, also known as the Green Oscar, announced by UK-based Whitley
Fund for Nature (WFN).
o The award recognises Phom’s efforts at establishing a new “Biodiversity Peace
Corridor” changing the fate of Amur Falcons, which come to roost in Nagaland each
year.
1.145 AV Rama Rao Technology Award 2021

• Council of Scientific And Industrial Research–Indian Institute Of Chemical Technology (CSIR-
IICT) has conferred the AV Rama Rao Technology Award 2021 on Prof. Sandeep Verma,
Secretary, Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology.
• Dr. A.V. Rama Rao Young Scientist Awards, instituted by CSIR-IICT and sponsored by AVRA
Laboratories, were also conferred on eminent researchers below 40 years of age.
1.146 GUVI sets Guinness record for upskilling people in Python

• Recently, IIT Madras-incubated startup GUVI and All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE) have organized 'AI-for-India' Initiative & set the Guinness world record for upskilling
most numbers of users in Python programming language lessons in 24 hours.
• Beating the previous record by 50 times, as many as 1,12,319 people have participated in
the initiative.
Aim: to reach out one million Indians and upskill them in the Python programme language.
1.147 Miss Mexico Andrea Meza gets crowned Miss Universe 2020
• Miss Mexico Andrea Meza has won the Miss Universe 2020 pageant.
• The event was held in the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Hotel or famously known as the
Guitar hotel in Florida.
• Andrea Meza became the third Mexican woman to be crowned as Miss Universe.

1.148 Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen conferred with Spain's top award in social sciences
• Indian economist and Nobel Laureate, Amartya Kumar Sen has been conferred with Spain's
top Princess of Asturias Award in the social sciences category.
• His research on famines and his theory of human development, welfare economics and the
underlying mechanisms of poverty have contributed to the fight against injustice, inequality,
disease and ignorance.
• The award comprises a Joan Miro sculpture representing and symbolising the Award, a
diploma, an insignia and a cash prize of 50,000 Euros.
1.149 Recycling Carbon technology by Bengaluru startup has received TDB National Award 2021
• A Bengaluru based startup, Breathe Applied Sciences, has received the National Award 2021
from Technology Development Board (TDB) for developing a commercial solution for
conversion of CO2 to methanol and other chemicals.
• The startup was incubated at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
(JNCASR).
• The research was carried out by Prof. Sebastian C Peter and his group from the New
Chemistry Unit at JNCASR.
• Prof. Sebastian C Peter is also a Co-Founder and Director of Breathe Applied Sciences.
• The startup has signed an agreement with JNCASR for transfer of technology based on lab-
scale research on reducing CO2 to methanol and other useful chemicals and fuels.
Banking
1.150 RBI cancels licence of West Bengal's United Co-operative Bank
• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of United Co-operative
Bank Ltd, Bagnan, West Bengal as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.
• The bank didn’t comply with the provisions of section 11(1) and sections 22 (3) (a) to 22 (3)
(e) read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The bank has been prohibited from conducting 'banking' functions which includes
acceptance and repayment of deposits as defined in Section 5 (b) read with Section 56 of
the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with immediate effect.
• On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claims up to a
monetary ceiling of Rs 5,00,000/- from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
Corporation (DICGC) subject to the provisions of the DICGC Act, 1961.
• Sec 11(1), Banking Regulation Act: no primary (urban) cooperative bank can commence or
carry on banking business if the real or exchangeable value of its paid-up capital and reserves
is less than Rs 1 lakh.
• Sec 22 Banking Regulation Act: deals with Licensing of banking companies.
• Sec 56 Banking Regulation Act: applies to co-operative societies.

1.151 RBI grants PPI authorisation to Eroute Technologies
• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has authorized Noida based Eroute Technologies to
operate as a PPI (prepaid payment instruments) company by providing approval to initiate
issuance and operations of semi-closed pre-paid instruments.
• RBI had earlier permitted non-banking payment system operators of PPIs to become direct
members of Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)/ National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
transactions.
1.152 SBI Card raises Rs 455 crore by issuing bonds

• Recently, SBI Cards and Payment Services (SBI Card) has raised Rs 455 crore by issuing
bonds [Non-convertible debentures (NCDs)].
• The bonds have been issued with face value of Rs 10 lakh each on private placement basis
with maturity date - May 10, 2024, which would offer coupons at 5.70 % per annum.
• Bonds issued are to be listed on the wholesale debt market segment of Bombay Stock
Exchange (BSE).
1.153 IDFC First Bank planning to make home loans 40% of total portfolio
• Recently, IDFC First Bank has planned to become aggressive in home loans to make it 40 %
of total loan portfolio in the long run.
• According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the home loan portfolio of IDFC First Bank
rose by 9.1 % to Rs 14.59 trillion in FY21.
• Size of addressable home loan market in India: Rs 25 trillion
• Size of property-backed loans, including business banking in India: Rs 25 trillion.
1.154 HSBC India launches digital banking solutions for its corporate customers
• Recently, HSBC India has launched “HSBC SmartServe and HSBC IntelliSign” digital banking
solutions for its corporate customers.
• HSBC SmartServe provides clients with a fully automated on-boarding solution, where they
can submit data and documents directly and securely, in addition to receiving confirmations
and alerts.
• HSBC IntelliSign enables corporate clients to execute product on-boarding and lending
documents digitally.
• Additional Information- HSBC India has partnered with Google Pay for tokenisation on its
credit card portfolio.
1.155 SBI partners with HyperVerge for “Video KYC solution”

• Recently, the State Bank of India (SBI) has partnered with HyperVerge for the latters flagship
products the “Video KYC solution” to provide convenient digital banking services to citizens
of India.
• It aims to achieve a whopping 10x improvement over the regular video KYC checks
performed per day per agent.
• State Bank of India has also launched a full power YONO Savings Account that can be
opened instantly with Video KYC in 4 simple steps.

o This new service will offer complete paperless and instant digital savings account
opening experience with just PAN (permanent account number and Aadhaar card.
1.156 Government to sell 1.95% SUUTI stake in Axis Bank

• Recently, the Central Government has announced to sell 1.95% stake in Axis Bank through
Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI).
• The sale is expected to fetch around Rs 3,969 crore to the exchequer in divestment receipts.
• Details of the sale:
o Government to sell its 1.21% stake in Axis Bank with the floor price- Rs 680 per share.
o Additionally government has also kept the option to sell its 0.74% stake in Axis Bank.
• Central Government aims to garner Rs 1.75 trillion in divestment receipts during 2021-22.
• Central Government had collected Rs 32,835 crore in divestment receipts as against the
revised target of Rs 32,000 crore.
2 GA + ESI in News
2.1 Centre notifies 48.32 sq km around TCFS as eco sensitive zone
[Sustainable Development & Environmental Issues]
• Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified
48.32 sq km around the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS), Maharashtra as an Eco
Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
Background:
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas are areas within 10 kms around
Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• ESZs are notified by the MoEFCC under Environment Protection Act, 1986.
2.2 Children impacted by Covid-19 are provided Tele Counselling through SAMVEDNA
[Social Sectors – Health]
• Recently, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) under the aegis of
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), has providing tele counselling
through SAMVEDNA(Sensitizing Action on Mental Health Vulnerability through Emotional
Development and Necessary Acceptance) - a Toll-Free Helpline to provide psycho-social
mental support for Children affected by COVID-19.
• Tele counselling is provided to children under three categories, viz:
o Children who are in Quarantine/isolation/COVID Care centers.
o Children who have COVID positive parents or family members and near ones.
o Children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19 Pandemic.
Relevance:
• Toll-free Tele-Counselling through SAMVEDNA was started in September 2020.
• According to data from MoWCD, redressal of 1,009 complaints were done from September
2020 till 7th May 2021.

2.3 Toll Free Helpline ELDERLINE (14567) becomes operational in several states
• Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, has started state wise call centres
under the ELDERLINE project to address the problems of the elders during the pandemic.
• ELDERLINE is operationalized with the assistance of Tata Trusts and NSE foundation.
Key Highlights:
• ELDERLINE is already operational in 5 States viz, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka & in Telangana, it has been operational for more than a year.
• The facility would be expanded to all the states by the end of May 2021.
• Top 3 states to register maximum calls: Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka & Uttar Pradesh.
2.4 WPI inflation rises to 11-year high in April 2021

[Inflation]
• Recently, the Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT) has released index numbers of Wholesale Price in India for April, 2021
(Provisional) and February, 2021 (Final).
• Index Numbers & Annual Rate of Inflation(Y-o-Y)*:
Note: P: Provisional, F: Final, * Annual rate of WPI inflation calculated over the corresponding
month of previous year.
• Food inflation in April 2021: 4.92%
• Core inflation, excluding food and fuel prices in April 2021: 8.4 %
• Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation in April 2020: (-)1.57 %
2.5 Mineral Production during March 2021 (Provisional)

[Sustainable Development and Environmental Issues]
• Recently, the Ministry of Mines has informed that the index of mineral production of the
mining and quarrying sector for March, 2021 (Base: 2011-12=100) at 139.0, which was 6.1%
higher as compared to the level in March, 2020.
• Cumulative growth for the period April 2020 – March 2021: (-) 7.8 %.
• Top 5 minerals showing positive growth in production during March 2021 over March
2020: Manganese Ore, Lead conc., Phosphorite, Copper conc & Chromite.

2.6 AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenge concludes with great success
• Recently, as part of Indo-Danish bilateral Green strategic partnership, Atal Innovation
Mission in partnership with Innovation Center Denmark (ICDK), Embassy of Denmark and
Denmark Technical University (DTU) have concluded the global finals of the Next
Generation Water Action (NGWA) Water Innovation Challenge.
• NGWA was anchored by DTU to engage young talents from leading universities and
innovation hubs of 5 countries (India, Denmark, Kenya, Ghana and South Korea) to apply
technical disciplines, innovation capacity, solutions to challenge and catalyse water solutions
towards smart livable cities.
• NGWA Hosts: International Water Association and DTU
• NGWA Challenge Host for India: Atal Innovation Mission.
• Venue of NGWA finals: DTU.
• Academic Partners from India: IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and International Center for Clear Water
at IIT Madras.
• Incubator Partners from India: AIC- Sangam and AIC FISE
• 10 Indian teams were selected for the challenge through AIM-ICDK Water innovation
challenge.
About AIM-ICDK Water innovation challenge:
• Launched by Atal Innovation Mission, in partnership with Innovation Center Denmark
(ICDK), and the Denmark Technical University (DTU) in the following five themes/areas:
o Digital water management solutions
o Solutions for monitoring and prevention of leakage in city water supply
o Wastewater management across Rural/Agri belts and Urban settlements
o Rainwater harvesting in Rural and urban settlements
o Safe and sustained drinking water.
2.7 How fluctuations in prices impact overall economy

[Inflation]
• In India, Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) are two kinds of indices
used to measure Inflation.
• CPI: measures changes in prices of essential commodities at the consumer level.
• WPI: measures changes in prices at the manufacturer’s level.
• Role of Monetary Policy:
o As a monetary policy objective, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) started inflation targeting
of 4% (+/- 2%) since 2016.
o In order to reduce money supply RBI adopts contractionary monetary policy or tight
monetary policy.
o On the other hand, RBI adopts Expansionary monetary policy to increase money
supply in the economy.
2.8 Punjab launches COVID-19 vaccination drive for families of healthcare workers

• Recently, the Chief Minister of Punjab has announced the launch of 18-44 age group
vaccination for families of healthcare workers in both government and private sectors, as
well as those suffering from comorbidities.
2.9 SECI organizes webinar on mental health and immunity

• Recently, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) Limited in association with Viveo health
has organized a webinar on Mental Health and Immunity for its employees.
Note: SECI under the aegis of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal agency to
implement renewable energy projects across India.
2.10 Haryana first state to reimburse GST on Covid-related donations

• Recently, Haryana became the first state in India to allow reimbursement of Goods and
Services Tax (GST) on Covid-related donations for 15 eligible medical supplies to the
Haryana Govt., state-run hospitals, or hospitals or institutions permitted to receive such
donations through Haryana’s Health and Family Welfare departments.
• The reimbursement covers the state GST (SGST), central GST (CGST) and integrated GST
(IGST) components & would be available till June 30, 2021.
• Earlier, Gujarat has announced reimbursement of IGST levied as part of customs on import
of 21 Covid-related items till July 31, 2021.
2.11 Income Tax Department to launch new e-filing portal

[Fiscal Policy]
• Recently, the Income Tax Department, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced
the launch of new e-filing portal (www.incometax.gov.in) on 7th June, 2021 aimed at
providing a modern, convenient & seamless experience to taxpayers.
• The existing portal would not be available from 1st June, 2021 to 6th June, 2021 due to
migration.
Background:
• E-filing portal is used by the taxpayers to file individual or business category income tax
returns (ITRs) and to raise complaints seeking refunds & other works with the tax
department.
2.12 Health Ministry accepts new recommendations of NEGVAC on COVID vaccination

• Recently, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has accepted the new recommendations
of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) on COVID-
19 vaccination.
Key Recommendations:
• COVID-19 vaccination should be deferred in the following cases:
o For Individuals tested positive for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS 2)
COVID-19, vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery.

o COVID-19 patients who have been given anti-SARS-2 monoclonal antibodies or
convalescent plasma, vaccination to be deferred by 3 months from the date of
discharge from the hospital.
o Individuals who have received the 1st dose and infected with COVID-19, the 2nd dose
should be deferred by 3 months after clinical recovery.
o Persons with any other serious general illness requiring hospitalization or intensive
care unit (ICU) care should wait for 4-8 weeks before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Screening of the vaccine recipients by rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to COVID-19 vaccination
is not required.
• An individual can donate blood after 14 days of either receipt of COVID-19 vaccine or
testing Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) negative, if suffering
from COVID-19 disease.
• COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women.
• COVID-19 Vaccination of pregnant women is under discussion and further deliberation by
the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).
About NEGVAC:
• Constituted by the Central Government in August 2020.
• Chairman: Dr V K Paul.
2.13 Opening session of Conference of Health Ministers of Commonwealth Countries

• Recently, the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare has chaired the opening session
of the 33rd meeting of Health Ministers of Commonwealth countries.
• Theme: “Commonwealth Response to COVID-19: Ensuring Equitable Access to Vaccines and
Building Resilience for Health Systems and Emergencies ”
Key Information Shared:
• Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator: global collaboration to accelerate the
development, production and equitable access to new COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics
and vaccines led by the World Health Organization (WHO)
• COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX): aims to deliver at least two billion
vaccines by the end of 2021, covering 20% of the most vulnerable population in about 92
Low and Middle-Income countries; COVAX is the vaccine pillar of ACT Accelerator.
• Govt. of India has exported COVID-19 vaccines to more than 90 countries under its Vaccine
Maitri initiative.
2.14 SEBI proposes merger of debt securities rules into single regulation
[Indian Financial and Money Markets]
• Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has proposed the merger of
listing rules pertaining to debt securities and non- convertible redeemable preference
shares into a single regulation.
• Aim: harmonising with the Companies Act, 2013, and maintaining consistency with SEBIs
LODR (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) rules and Debenture Trustees
norms.

Key Highlights:
• The proposal suggests the merger of Issue and listing of Debt Securities (ILDS) Regulations,
2008 and Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Redeemable Preference Shares (NCRPS)
Regulations, 2013 into Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities (NCS) Regulations,
2021.
• The proposed merger would separate the chapters on the basis of type of issue viz, public or
private placement and instruments viz, debt securities, commercial papers.
Background:
• Apart from the proposed merger, other changes like repeal of the SEBI (Issue of Capital and
Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 and Substitution with Issue of Capital and
Disclosure Requirements (ICDR rule), 2018 have been made earlier.
• NCRPS rules also cover the listing of perpetual debt instruments (PDIs) and perpetual non-
convertible preference shares (PNCPS).
• NCRPS Regulations have been modelled on the ILDS Regulations.
About NCRPS:
• NCRPS are hybrid equity and debt instruments.
• They carry fixed dividend rates as well as are redeemable.
• As the shareholder is entitled to voting rights in case dividend is not paid for two years as
per the Companies Act, they are also termed as a 'quasi-debt' instruments.
2.15 EPFO adds 11.22 lakh net subscribers in the month of March, 2021
[Employment Generation in India]
• Recently, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has published the provisional payroll data
of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Key Highlights:
• 77.08 lakh net subscribers added under EPFO during FY 2020-21.
• Maximum improvement of 33.64 lakh net subscribers was observed during the 4th quarter
(Jan-March, 2021) with a growth of 37.44% as compared to the third quarter (Oct-Dec,
2020).
• EPFO has added 11.22 lakh net subscribers in March, 2021.
• Out of total net subscribers in March 2021, around 7.16 lakh new members have joint EPFO
for the first time & 4.06 lakh net subscribers exited and then rejoined EPFO.
• Top 2 age groups with highest number of net enrollments of March 2021: 22-25 & 18-21.
• Members of 18-25 age-groups have contributed around 48.44 % of the net subscriber
additions in March 2021.
• Around 2.42 lakh net female subscribers have been added in March 2021 which is 21.56% of
total net addition.
2.16 PFRDA subscriber base jumps to 42.7 million by April 2021

• According to recent data released by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority (PFRDA), subscriber base in various schemes under the National Pension System

(NPS) & Atal Pension Yojana (APY) rose to 426.75 lakh by end of April 2021 from 346.01 lakh
in April 2020 showing a year-on-year increase of 23.33%.
• Number of subscribers under the APY alone increased by 33.23 % to 2.82 crore as of April
2021.
• Total Assets under Management (AUM) of NPS and APY increased by 36.05% to Rs 5.90 lakh
crore by the end of April 2021.
• Of the total, the AUM of APY scheme moved up by 47.41% to Rs 16,136 crore.
2.17 PIB organizes Webinar on “Finding the Light Inside: Mental Well-being and the Pandemic”
• Recently, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and
Regional Outreach Bureau, Maharashtra and Goa Region have jointly launched a Webinar
on the topic “Finding the Light Inside: Mental Well-being and the Pandemic” in association
with The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.
2.18 Kerala declares mucormycosis a notifiable disease

• Recently, the Kerala Govt. following a directive of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
has declared mucormycosis or black fungus infection a notifiable disease under the
Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
• Hence, it is now mandatory for all govt. and private health facilities to report all suspected
and confirmed cases of mucormycosis to the Health Department and the Integrated Disease
Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
• Health facilities should also follow Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines for
screening, diagnosis & management of mucormycosis.
2.19 “e-Courts Services Mobile App” released in English and Regional Languages
[Social Justice]
• Recently, the E-Committee, Supreme Court of India has released Manual for its top citizen-
centric service- free “e-Courts Services Mobile app” in 14 languages.
• The manual explains the features of the app using screenshots for easy understanding.
About e-Courts Services Mobile app:
• It is a free personalized digital case diary for litigants/ advocates/organizations/ govt. depts.
/citizens with all the case details available in their mobiles anytime.
• e-Courts Services Mobile app is hailed as an effective Electronic Case Management Tool
(ECMT).
• Total downloads of e-Courts Services Mobile app so far: 57 lakh.
• Advocate /Litigant/organization can maintain a digital diary of all cases under ‘My Cases’
feature of the app; using ‘My Cases', users can add personalized lists of cases and get all
updates through the eCourts mobile app.
• Through the e-Courts services mobile app case status and case details of both High Courts
and District Courts could be obtained.

2.20 Minister of State for External Affairs reiterates India’s commitment to build more resilient
& stronger Africa
[International Economic Issues]
• Recently, the Minister of State for External Affairs has delivered India’s message at the
Summit on Financing African Economies hosted by the President of France in Paris.
Key Information Shared:
• At present, there are over 89 projects across 41 African countries being implemented with
Indian concessional credit.
• India has supplied 24.7 million doses of Made in India COVID vaccines as grants, and
commercial and COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX) supplies to 42 African
countries under the "Vaccine Maitri” initiative.
Key Highlight:
• During the Summit French President agreed to persuade rich nations by October 2021 to
reallocate $100 billion in International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) special drawing rights (SDR)
monetary reserves to African countries.
2.21 DST invites applications to NIDHI4COVID2.0 initiative to tackle COVID-19 2nd wave
• Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has invited Indian Startups &
Companies to develop new technologies and innovative products to tackle second COVID
wave under NIDHI4COVID2.0 initiative.
• The initiative is a special drive of the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship
Development Board (NSTEDB), DST for supporting indigenous solutions and innovative
products to combat the crisis faced by India caused by the pandemic.
• Initiative powered by: National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI)
Seed Support Programme.
• Initiative supported by: Indian Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park and Business
Incubators Association (ISBA)
Key Highlights:
• Eligibility:
o The applicant must be a startup/company registered in India.
o Startups should be less than 10 years in existence.
o In case a startup has more than 10 years of existence, and the product has reached
commercialization stage, the company may approach Technology Development
Board (TDB) for funding support.
o Founders of the applicant company should have at least 51% Indian shareholding.
o Startups having Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
recognition with Startup India would be preferred.
o Innovative solutions at conceptual stage requiring funds for prototype development
would be directed towards National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing
Innovations-PRomoting and Accelerating Young and ASpiring technology
entrepreneurs (NIDHI PRAYAS) program.

• Thrust Areas to be supported: Oxygen innovation, portable solution, relevant medical
accessories, diagnostics, Informatics & others.
• Innovations/technologies shortlisted would be considered for Seed support through DST
supported network of Technology Business Incubators (TBIs).
• Benefits to Startups/companies: Funding, Mentoring & Market Access.
Background:
• NIDHI4COVID2.0 has been initiated based on implementation of Centre for Augmenting
WAR with COVID-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH) by NSTEDB and also through special calls
through National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations - Seed Support System
(NIDHI - SSS) from Technology business incubators (TBI) to support Startups in 2020.
2.22 All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers – April, 2021
[Inflation]
• Recently, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has released All-India Consumer Price Index
Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers – April, 2021.
Key Highlights:
• The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL)and Rural
Labourers (CPI-RL) (Base: 1986-87=100) for April, 2021 increased by 6 points each to stand
at 1041 and 1049 points respectively.
• Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL decreased to 2.66% and
2.94% respectively in April, 2021.
• Maximum increase in the CPI-AL and CPI-RL was experienced by West Bengal.
• Maximum decrease in CPI-AL was experienced by Andhra Pradesh.
• Maximum decrease in CPI-RL was experienced by Andhra Pradesh & Tripura.
• For Agriculture Labourer: Top - Tamil Nadu, Bottom-Himachal Pradesh.
• For Rural Labourer: Top -Tamil Nadu, Bottom-Bihar.
2.23 Government raises subsidy on DAP fertilizer by 140% to Rs 1,200 per bag
[Indian Agriculture]
• Recently, the Prime Minister of India has chaired a high level meeting on the issue of
fertilizer prices and announced historic pro-farmer decision of hiking fertilizer subsidy.
Key Highlights:
• Subsidy on DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) fertilizer increased by 140%.
• Farmers to get subsidy of Rs 1,200 per bag of DAP instead of Rs 500 per bag.
• The proposed subsidy has slashed DAP prices to half from Rs 2,400 per bag to Rs 1,200 per
bag.
• Additional subsidy amount of Rs 14,775 crore would be spent by Central Government
during Kharif Season.
Background:
• DAP prices in 2020: Actual price: Rs 1,700 per bag; Subsidy: Rs 500 per bag; companies sold
fertilizer to farmers for Rs 1,200 per bag.
• Every year Central Government spends about Rs 80,000 crore on subsidies for chemical
fertilizers.

• International prices of phosphoric acid & ammonia used for producing DAP have gone up by
60%-70%.
2.24 RBI Board approves transfer of Rs 99,122 crore as surplus to Central Government
[Role of RBI in development process]
• Recently, the 589th meeting of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) has been held under the chairmanship of the RBI Governor
• During the meeting, the board has approved the transfer of Rs 99,122 crore as surplus to
the Central Government for the accounting period of nine months from July 2020 to March
2021
• The Board has also decided to maintain the Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.50%.
• With the change in the RBI’s accounting year to April-March (earlier July-June), the Board
also discussed the working of the RBI during the transition period of nine months (July 2020-
March 2021).
Relevance:
• The proposed surplus transfer amounts to 95% of the Rs 1.04 trillion budgeted by the
government as dividend from RBI and other state-owned banks and companies in 2021-22.
• It is also 73.50% higher, compared to Rs 57,128 crore transfer approved in 2019-20.
About Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB):
• It is a component of RBI’s economic capital required to cover its monetary and financial
stability, credit and operational risks
• CRB is maintained primarily from retained Earnings of the RBI.
• RBI fixes CRB as per the recommendations of the Bimal Jalan committee within a range of
6.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent of the RBI’s balance sheet.
2.25 Union Government to give Subsistence Allowance for Transgender Persons

• Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has decided to provide a
subsistence allowance of Rs 1500 to each Transgender person to meet their basic needs.
• The Ministry has requested all the states to organize separate mobile vaccination centers or
booths to vaccinate Transgender persons such as those taken up in Haryana & Assam.
• Central Government has also started a Helpline for Transgender Persons to promote mental
health.
Relevance:
• In 2020, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has provided financial assistance and
ration kits to Transgender persons amounting Rs 98.50 lakh during lockdown.
2.26 Defence Minister launches SeHAT OPD portal

• Recently, the Union Minister for Defence has virtually launched Services e-Health Assistance
& Tele-consultation (SeHAT) OPD portal to provide tele-medicine services to Armed Forces
personnel, Veterans and their families.

2.27 Cabinet approves PLI scheme for battery manufacturing
• Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the Department of
Heavy Industry’s proposal to implement the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’ to reduce import
dependence and to boost electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
About the scheme:
Launch Year 2021
Nodal Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises
Ministry
Total Outlay Rs.18,100 crore
Target • to achieve manufacturing capacity of 50 Giga Watt Hour (GWh) of ACC and
5 GWh of "Niche" ACC
Key • ACC battery Storage manufacturers will be selected through competitive
Features bidding process
• Manufacturing facility must be commissioned within a period of two years.
• The incentive would be disbursed thereafter over a period of five years
• Each selected ACC battery Storage manufacturer would have to commit to
set-up an ACC manufacturing facility of minimum 5 GWh capacity and
ensure minimum 60% domestic value addition at the Project level within 5
years.
• Beneficiary firms must also achieve a domestic value addition of atleast
25% and incur the mandatory investment Rs.225 crore /GWh within 2
Years (at the Mother Unit Level) and raise it to 60% domestic value
addition within 5 Years, either at Mother Unit, in-case of an Integrated
Unit, or at the Project Level, in-case of "Hub & Spoke" structure.
Key Benefits • Direct investment of around Rs 45,000 crore in ACC Battery storage
manufacturing projects.
• Net savings of Rs 2 trillion to 2.5 trillion on account of oil import bill
reduction as ACCs manufactured under the Programme is expected to
accelerate EV adoption.
• Import substitution of around Rs.20,000 crore every year.
2.28 Punjab government frames New Punjab Prison Rules, 2021

[Social Justice]
• The Cabinet of State Government of Punjab has approved the Punjab Prison Rules, 2021
under the Prison Act 1894, thereby superseding the Punjab Jail Manual, 1996 which has
become archaic and outdated.
About Punjab Prison Rules, 2021
• It lays emphasis not only on safe and secure custody of prisoners but also on other aspects,
such as welfare, corrections and aftercare, which are equally important in modern times.
o Punjab Jail Manual, 1996, focused more on safe and secure custody of prisoners.
• New security parameters have been introduced:

o ‘Prisons within prisons’ – they are high security enclosures/ zones for lodging high
risk prisoners.
• A framework for aftercare assistance has been introduced for reducing recidivism and
ensuring successful rehabilitation and social reintegration of released convict.
• Provisions for use of technology for a more efficient and effective prison administration has
been introduced for both hardware as well software side.
• A grievance redressal system in every prison, is also introduced to provide every inmate
legitimate opportunity to voice his/her grievances.
o Compliant boxes shall be installed at different locations in the prison.
• A provision for electronic communication where the inmates can hold face to face
interviews with family/friends or legal counsel has also been made.
2.29 National Bamboo Mission launches MIS module for Agarbatti industry
[Indian Agriculture]
• National Bamboo Mission has launched the Management Information System (MIS)
module to strengthen the domestic Agarbatti industry.
About the MIS Module
• It will collect data on:
o Agarbatti production
o Availability of raw materials
o Location of stick making units
o Production capacity, functioning of units, marketing etc.
• The system will act as an intermediary between the production units and the Agarbatti
industry and will help to fill the information gaps.
About National Bamboo Mission
• The restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was launched in 2018-19 for holistic
development of the bamboo sector through a cluster based approach using a hub and spoke
model.
• Direct subsidy of 50% is given to farmers at ₹1.00 lakh per ha.
o 100% to Government agencies and also to entrepreneurs to set up various product
development unit.
• It is currently being implemented in 21 states.
2.30 MP government to provide ₹5,000 per month, free education and ration to Covid orphans
[Social Sector- Health]
• The State Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has announced that all children/families
will get ₹5,000 as monthly pension who have lost their parents/either of parents/guardians
due to the Covid-19.
o Along with the monthly pension, free education and ration will also be provided.
o MP is the 1st state to rescue the kids who have become orphans due to Covid
pandemic.
o Also the surviving parent/guardian/kin who is tasked with taking care will be
disbursed interest-free loans to start a business for the survival and care of the kids.

• The MP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Women and Child
Development department of the state government are working at tracing all such kids who
have become parentless or lost either of their parents or guardians.
o This is being done following directives from the National Commission for Protection
of Child Rights (NCPCR) to all state governments.
• Initiatives by State Commission for Protection of Child Rights of MP:
o State Commission is providing ₹2,000 monthly to every child under the existing Child
Sponsor Scheme.
▪ It will continuously check whether families with whom these kids are living are
actually taking their care or not.
o The Commission has tasked child welfare committees (CWCs) in each district to
ensure a smooth transfer of their parents' movable and immovable properties,
including money in banks, to these kids.
o It is also planning to create a reserve fund with generous contributions from
benevolent donors to take permanent care of such kids.
2.31 UN global economic forecast at 5.4% growth in 2021

[International Economic Institutions]
• United Nations (UN) released mid 2021 World Economic Situation and Prospects report as
per which it revised global economic growth forecast from 4.7% to 5.4% for 2021.
o For 2022, UN forecasted economic growth to be 4.7%.
• Growth forecast for India has also been increased by 0.2% to 7.5% for 2021 and 10.1% for
2022.
o India will be world’s fastest growing major economy in 2022 as per UN.
o India’s growth outlook for 2021 was reported as ‘fragile’ due to increasing COVID-19
cases.
• Europe’s outlook is also not as bright as expected because of signs of 2nd and 3rd wave of
COVID-19 infections.
• Increasing COVID-19 cases and inadequate availability of vaccine in many countries
threatens broad based recovery.
2.32 Haryana undertakes Monkey Census

[Demographic Trends]
• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) along with state Forest Department, Haryana has
conducted a “Monkey Census” in state of Haryana.
About Monkey Census
• It is part of the “Wildlife Census of Haryana-2021”, which in turn is a part of “Wildlife
Census 2021”.
• The unique feature of the “Monkey Census” is that invited the local people to participate in
the census.
o The participants were asked not to venture out of their houses and the animals
should be only observed from within the house for the survey.
o The participants had to enter the count of the monkeys, their sizes and gender if
possible, using the application.
• The Census for the first time was conducted using a mobile application called “Wildlife
Census Haryana”, designed by WII.
• The census was conducted from 28th to 30th April, 2021 and 6,000 monkeys were spotted by
around 600 people.
o The census was halted due to increasing number of Covid cases in the state.
2.33 Transfer of land from ITBP to Uttarakhand government for infrastructure project
• The Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved transfer of 1500 square metres of
land belonging to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Mussoorie to the State Government
of Uttarakhand for, 'Aerial Passenger Ropeway System' between Dehradun and Mussoorie.
About 'Aerial Passenger Ropeway System'
• It is a mono-cable ropeway of 5580 meters length and estimated cost for construction is
₹285 crore.
• It would be constructed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode between Purkul Gaon,
Dehradun (Lower Terminal Station) and Library, Mussoorie (Upper Terminal Station).
• It will have a carrying capacity of 1000 persons per hour per direction, and it would
considerably reduce the traffic flow on road route from Dehradun to Mussoorie.
• It will generate direct employment for 350 people and indirect employment for more than
1500 people.
• The ropeway will be a huge attraction for tourists, will provide a boost to the tourism
industry in the State and create additional employment opportunities in tourism sector.
2.34 GDP growth may be below 9% in FY22: Care Ratings

[Measurement of Growth]
• Care Ratings conducted a survey as per which 2nd wave of COVID-19 and along with
restrictions imposed on business activities by several states, is likely to push Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth below 9% in financial year (FY) 2022.
• Major highlights of the survey:
o At least 80% of the respondents expect consumer demand for non-essential items as
well as investment to be severely impacted.
o 7 out of 10 respondents expect GDP growth to be below 9% for FY22.
o Majority of respondents expect the lockdown announced by several states will stay
till May-end.
o 54% of the people, believe that lockdown is a solution to the current COVID-19
situation in the country.
o Around three-fourth of the respondents feel that the current lockdown is not as
stringent as that imposed in 2020.
o Economic growth will reduce to 8.2% if the 2nd wave of pandemic peaks by June end.
2.35 Gems, jewellery exports increased to ₹25,226 crore in April 2021: GJEPC
[Balance of Trade]
• According to Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the overall shipments
of gems and jewellery increased to ₹25,226.11 crore on year-on-year basis in April 2021.

o Exports of cut and polished diamonds (CPD) in April 2021 was of ₹16,538.84 crore.
o Gold jewellery exports was of ₹5,060.23 crore in April 2021.
o Silver jewellery exports was of ₹2,240.13 crore in April 2021.
o Exports of coloured gemstone in April 2021 was of ₹163.66 crore.
• The overall gems and jewellery exports was ₹273.41 crore in April 2020, due to lockdowns
imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
• During the ongoing second wave of the pandemic, no national lockdown was imposed and
in all manufacturing locations, activity for export was facilitated by the government.
2.36 Plasma therapy dropped from Covid-19 management guidelines in India

• The central government has revised the clinical guidance for Covid-19 treatment, and it
dropped the off-label use of convalescent plasma therapy from Covid-19 treatment.
o As it was not beneficial in reducing the progression to severe disease or even death
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Task Force for Covid-19, in a meeting
decided on removing the use of convalescent plasma therapy because of its ineffectiveness
and inappropriate use in several cases.
• Plasma Therapy use is recommended at early moderate stage of disease, within 7 days of
onset of symptoms and based on the availability of a high titre donor plasma.
• However, in present scenario there is a possibility of development of various virulent strains
of virus in India, due to irrational use of plasma therapy.
2.37 NBFCs record double digit growth in Q2, Q3 of FY21

[Reserve Bank in the development process]
• Nandini Jayakumar, K M Neelima, and Gopal Prasad, from the Department of Economic and
Policy Research under the guidance of Ashok Sahoo, Adviser prepared an article
“Performance of NBFCs during the Pandemic: A Snapshot”, which was published in the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monthly bulletin for May 2021.
• As per which Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) during the second quarter (Q2) and
third quarters (Q3) of financial year (FY) 2020-21, reported double digit growth of 13% and
11.6% on year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis.
o The reason for such growth is attributed to the quick adoption of technology, policy
support and reasonably strong fundamentals of NBFCs.
• NBFCs posted 4.8% and 2.5% credit growth in Q2 and Q3 of FY 2020-21 (Y-o-Y) respectively.
• The gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio of NBFCs increased in Q1 and Q2 of FY 2020-
21 compared to the corresponding period in 2019-20.
o In Q3, of FY 2020-21, both GNPA and net NPA ratios fell compared to Q3, of FY 2019-
20.
• Return on assets (RoA) and return on equity (RoE) deteriorated in Q1 of FY 2020-21
compared to the corresponding period in 2019-20.
o RoA and RoE improved from 1.8% and 10.3%, respectively in Q2 FY 2019-20 to 2.3%
and 12.7%, respectively in Q2 FY 2020-21.

• Industrial sector is the largest recipient of credit from NBFCs-ND-SI (non-deposit taking
systemically important NBFCs).
2.38 ‘Oxygen on Wheels’, dispatched for rural areas of Mathura

• 'Oxygen on Wheels' programme was launched in Mathura, for prompt supply oxygen and
contain spread of COVID-19 cases in rural areas of Mathura.
o This would help in reducing COVID-19 cases in rural areas of Mathura along with
reduced mortality rate.
About Oxygen on Wheels Programme
• The scheme is implemented in association with philanthropic industrialists.
• The family members of the patients have to contact the Integrated Control and Command
Centre in Mathura and required oxygen cylinder would reach them within two hours.
• The facility is free of cost and initially available for four days on the recommendation of the
area rapid response team.
o However, it may be extended for three more days based on the requirement.
• SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) will be nodal officer in rural areas, while an official from
Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) will be the in-charge in urban areas.
2.39 Ministry of Ayush organises ‘Be with Yoga, Be at Home’

• Ministry of Ayush is organising a series of webinars under the broad theme of “Be with
Yoga, Be at Home”.
o These webinars are part of one of the run up activity to the International Day of
Yoga 2021 which is to be celebrated on 21st June, 2021.
About “Be with Yoga, Be at Home”
• 5 webinars will be organised by Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with 5 renowned
organisation, each one organising one webinar.
o These 5 organisation are The Art of Living, The Yoga Institute, Krishnamacharya Yoga
Mandiram, Arham Dhyan Yog, and Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute.
• All the webinars will be live streamed on YouTube & Facebook page of Ministry of Ayush.
• The series aims to develop a cumulative understanding to respond to the cross cutting
issues faced currently during the time of pandemic, relying upon the collective experiential
wisdom of 5 organisations that have their own distinctive tradition of learning and sharing.
• The theme of webinar by The Art of Living is “Finding inner strength amidst outer crisis”.
2.40 TRIFED and NITI Aayog to partner for implementing Van Dhan initiative in tribal clusters
[Social Justice]
• TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India), Ministry of Tribal
Affairs is partnering with NITI Aayog for implementation of Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK)
initiatives under Van Dhan Yojana in 39 Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog.
• A dedicated team consisting members from TRIFED and NITI Aayog will work together for
the implementation of the Van Dhan Yojana in each of the 39 Tribal Aspirational Districts,
which are situated in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya

Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Telangana and
Tripura.
o Special focus will be on aspirational districts where tribal population is more than
50%.
• Under the expansion plan of tribal development program:
o Additional 9900 VDVKs (subsumed into 659 VDVK Clusters) have been proposed to
be set up in these 39 tribal aspirational districts.
▪ Currently, 5325 VDVKs have been subsumed into 355 VDVK Clusters in these
districts.
o This will boost the employment generation to nearly 2 lakhs tribal families.
About Van Dhan tribal start-ups or VDVK
• It is a programme for value addition, branding & marketing of Minor Forest Produces by
establishing Van Dhan Kendras to facilitate creation of sustainable livelihoods for the forest-
based tribes.
About Van Dhan Yojana
• It was launched on 14th April, 2018 and is implemented by TRIFED.
• It seeks to improve tribal incomes through value addition of tribal products.
• It wants to establish tribal community owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKCs) in
forested tribal districts.
• Currently, 37,259 VDVKs, subsumed into VDVKCs of 300 forest dwellers each have been
sanctioned by TRIFED.
o 1 VDVK includes 20 tribal members.
o 15 VDVK form 1 VDVKC.
2.41 Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery to start from 15th June

[Balance of Payment]
• Central government has extended the deadline for implementation of mandatory
Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery to 15th June, 2021.
o In November 2019, the government had announced that hallmarking of gold
jewellery and artefacts will be mandatory across the country from 15th January,
2021.
o But this deadline was extended to 1st June, 2021 in view of the pandemic and clear
old non hallmarked jewellery.
• A committee, headed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Director General Pramod Tewari,
has been formed to ensure proper coordination and resolve the implementation issues.
• 15th June onwards, jewellers will be allowed to sell only 14, 18 and 22 carats of gold
jewellery.
About Hallmarking Scheme of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
• Jewellers are registered for selling hallmarked jewellery and recognise testing and
hallmarking centres.
• BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, are implemented from 14.06.2018.
• Hallmarking of jewellery/artefacts enables consumers or jewellery buyers to make a right
choice and save them from any unnecessary confusion while buying gold.

o It also ensures that consumers are not being cheated while buying gold jewellery and
they will get purity as marked on the jewellery.
• At present, only 30% of Indian Gold Jewellery is hallmarked.
• The number of Assaying and Hallmarking centres (AHCs) which are operative have increased
from 454 to 945 in the last 5 years.
o Out of these, 84 AHCs have been setup under government subsidy scheme in various
districts.
• According to World Gold Council:
o India has around 4 lakh jewellers, out of this only 35879 have been BIS certified.
2.42 Dr. Harsh Vardhan presents details of 147th and 148th session of Executive Board of WHA
• The Health Minister of India and the Chairman of WHO Executive Board, Dr. Harsh Vardhan
has presented the details of the 147th and 148th sessions of the Executive Board before the
74th World Health Assembly (WHA).
o The Assembly was chaired by Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo, Health Minister of Bhutan.
• Highlights of the Executive Board sessions:
o The Board emphasized to strengthen the 4 pillars focussing on Universal Health
Coverage, Emphasizing Health Emergencies, General Health and Wellbeing and
providing better support to countries.
o The board has called for further efforts to ensure equitable and fair access to
Coronavirus vaccines to COVAX Facility.
o It discussed on the impact of Coronavirus on global health.
o The Board recommended that the 74th WHA must also consider the report on the
mental health preparedness and the response for the COVID-19 pandemic.
✓ It recommended endorsing the updated comprehensive Mental Health Action
Plan for a period of 2013 to 2030.
o The Executive Board stressed that the findings of the 3 review mechanisms should
form part of future decision marking and member states are required to play an
important role for including these findings into policy actions.
✓ Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
✓ The Chair of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International
Health Regulations 2005 during COVID-19 Response.
✓ The Chair of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the
WHO Health Emergencies Program.
o It noted the report on the public health implications of implementation of the
Nagoya Protocol and acknowledged the need for timely pathogen-sharing to fulfil
public health needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
o The board encouraged WHO to work closely with the World Organisation for Animal
Health (OIE) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) for identifying the
zoonotic source of the virus.
o It decided to encourage member states to take further action to address diabetes as
a public health problem.

o The Executive Board recommended that the 74th WHA must adopt a decision for
presenting a road map for the global action plan for the control and prevention of
non-communicable diseases till 2030.
o It emphasized the importance of adopting a ‘One Health’ approach, following
consideration of a report on anti-microbial resistance.
✓ Revision of the Codex Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne
Antimicrobial Resistance also took place by member nations.
o It requested the Director-General to undertake a broad consultative process to
develop global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually
transmitted infections, for the period 2022 to 2030.
o The Board also requested the Director-General to draft a global strategy to tackle
oral diseases and an action plan for oral public health.
o It recommended WHA to adopt the global patient safety action plan for the period
2021 to 2030.
o The Board recommended the adoption of a resolution to ensure comprehensive,
accessible and affordable access to health systems and care for all persons with
disabilities.
o The Board has decided to establish a time-bound and result-oriented Working Group
on Sustainable Financing, and noted the Proposed Programme budget for 2022-23.
About World Health Assembly (WHA)
• It is a forum through which WHO is governed by its 194 member states.
• It is world’s highest health policy setting body and is composed of the Health Ministers from
WHO member states.
• The major task of WHA is to decide major policy questions and approve the WHO work
programme and budget.
o It also elects its Director-general and annually elects 10 members for renewing part
of its executive board.
2.43 Government Launches first of its kind Six- Month CBID Program on Rehabilitation of
Divyangjan
[Social Justice]
• Co-designed by - Rehabilitation Council of India and University of Melbourne
• Aim – To create a pool of grass-root rehabilitation workers at community level who can
work alongside ASHA and Anganwadi workers to handle cross disability issues and facilitate
inclusion of persons with disabilities in the society.
• The workers will be called 'Divyang Mitra' i.e. friends of persons with disabilities.
• It would enable India to develop trained manpower for rehabilitation and development of
Divyangjan to ensure their empowerment and inclusiveness in the society,
• It will be initially available in English, Hindi and 7 regional languages, namely, Gujarati,
Marathi, Odiya, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil and Garo.
Relevance
• Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Australia and the
Government of India on 22nd November, 2018 for cooperation in disability sector.

3 GA + Finance in news
3.1 Extension of Validity of Registration Certificates issued under The Foreign Contribution
(Regulation) Act, (FCRA) 2010 Expiring/Expired during period between 29.09.2020 and
30.09.2021
• Recently, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the validity of registration
certificates issued under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 during the period
between 29th September, 2020 end up to 30th September, 2021 shall remain valid up to
30th September, 2021.
• Existing FCRA Account Holders has been given time till 30th June 2021 to open “FCRA
Account” in designated State Bank of India Branch in New Delhi.
About Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010
• The FCRA regulates foreign donations and ensures that such contributions do not adversely
affect internal security.
• Applicability - All associations, groups and NGOs which intend to receive foreign donations.
• It is mandatory for all such NGOs to register themselves under the FCRA.
• Validity - Initially valid for five years and can be renewed subsequently if they comply with all
norms.
• Not Eligible - Members of the legislature and political parties, government officials, judges
and media persons are prohibited from receiving any foreign contribution.
• Purpose - Receiving foreign contribution for social, educational, religious, economic and
cultural purposes.
• Monetary limit – shall be less than Rs. 25,000.
• Filing of annual returns, on the lines of Income Tax, is compulsory.
• Suspension or cancellation of Registration
o The MHA on inspection of accounts and on receiving any adverse input against the
functioning of an association can suspend the FCRA registration initially for 180 days.
o Until a decision is taken, the association cannot receive any fresh donation and cannot
utilize more than 25% of the amount available in the designated bank account without
permission of the MHA. 
• Ministry can cancel the registration of an organisation which will not be eligible for
registration or grant of ‘prior permission’ for three years from the date of cancellation.
• Enacted in 1976.
3.2 Enhancement of facilities under the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of
Duty) Rules,2017
• Recently, the Government has brought changes in the existing Customs (Import of Goods at
Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, IGCR 2017 to boost trade facilitation.
Key Changes
• Imported goods have been permitted to be sent out for ‘job work’.
• Importers who do not have any manufacturing facility can now avail the IGCR, 2017 to
import goods at concessional Customs duty and get the final goods manufactured entirely on
job work basis
o Sectors such as gold, jewellery, precious stones and metals have been excluded.
• It allows manufactures who import capital goods at a concessional Customs duty to clear
them in the domestic market on payment of duty and interest, at a depreciated value.
• The procedure for availing the concessional Customs duty under these rules have been
reviewed and rationalized. The required intimations and records can be sent by email to the
jurisdictional Customs officer thereby obviating any physical interface.
About ICGR 2017
• The IGCR, 2017 lay down the procedures and manner in which an importer can avail the
benefit of a concessional Customs duty on import of goods required for domestic production
of goods or providing services.
3.3 India Inc’s foreign investment jumps to $2.51 billion in April 2021
[Recent Development in Finance Sector]
• India Inc's foreign investment in April 2021 increased by more than two-times on year-on-
year basis to $2.51 billion, as per Reserve Bank of India data.
o $1.75 billion worth loan.
o $421.42 million worth equity capital.
o $333.11 million worth issued guarantee.
o Indian investors had committed $1.21 billion of outward foreign direct investment
(OFDI) in April 2020.
3.4
CII expresses concerns over RBI’s new norms for Statutory Auditors appointment
[Recent Development in Finance Sector]
• Recently, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has expressed concerns over Reserve
Bank of India’s (RBI) new norms for appointments of Statutory Auditors in banks and Non
Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs).
• The three years tenure specified by RBI is inconsistent with the Companies Act which
specifies a minimum term of five years.
• CII has stated that the banks need reasonable transition period for better clarity and has
also proposed atleast two years deferment period for implementation.
Relevance:
• In April 2021, RBI had introduced new norms for auditor appointments, requiring immediate
rotation of audit firms if they had completed three years at a particular entity.
Note: New norms for Statutory Auditors appointment covered in April 2021 CA Magazine.
3.5 Government extends timelines for income tax compliance amid Covid-19 crisis
[Direct and Indirect Taxes]
• Recently, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the timelines for
compliances under the Income Tax Act, 1961 due to the hardships faced by the citizens
caused by the pandemic.
Key Highlights:
S.No. Particulars Section/Rules Old due date New due date
1 Statement of Financial Transactions Rule 114E, Income- 31st May, 30th June,
(SFT) for Financial Year 2020-21 tax Rules, 1962 2021 2021
2 Statement of Reportable Account Rule 114G, Income- 31st May, 30th June,
for the calendar year 2020 tax Rules, 1962 2021 2021
3 Statement of Deduction of Tax for Rule 31A, Income- 31st May, 30th June,

the last quarter of the Financial tax Rules, 1962 2021 2021
Year 2020-21
4 Certificate of Tax Deducted at Rule 31, Income- 15th June, 15th July, 2021
Source (TDS) in Form No 16 tax Rules, 1962 2021
5 TDS/TCS(Tax collected at source) Rule 30 and Rule 15th June, 30th June,
Book Adjustment Statement in 37CA, Income-tax 2021 2021
Form No 24G for the month of Rules, 1962
May 2021
6 Statement of Deduction of Tax Rule 33, Income-tax 31st May, 30th June,
from contributions paid by the Rules, 1962 2021 2021
trustees of an approved
superannuation fund for the
Financial Year 2020-21
7 Statement of Income paid or Rule 12CB, Income- 15th June, 30th June,
credited by an investment fund to tax Rules, 1962 2021 2021
its unit holder in Form No 64D for
the Previous Year 2020-21
8 Statement of Income paid or Rule 12CB, Income- 30th June, 15th July, 2021
credited by an investment fund to tax Rules, 1962 2021
its unit holder in Form No 64C for
the Previous Year 2020-21
9 Furnishing of Return of Income for Section 139(1), 31st July, 30th
the Assessment Year 2021-22 Income Tax Act, 2021 September,
1961 2021
10 Furnishing of Report of Audit under - 30th 31st October,
any provision of the Act for the September, 2021
Previous Year 2020-21 2021
11 Furnishing report from an Section 92E, 31st October, 30th
Accountant by persons entering Income Tax Act, 2021 November,
into international transaction or 1961 2021
specified domestic transaction
12 Furnishing of Return of Income for Section 139(1), 31st October, 30th
the Assessment Year 2021-22 Income Tax Act, 2021 November,
1961 2021
13 Furnishing of Return of Income for Section 139(1), 30th 31st
the Assessment Year 2021-22 Income Tax Act, November, December,
1961 2021 2021
14 Furnishing of belated/revised Section 139(4) / 31st 31st January,
Return of Income for the 139(5), Income Tax December, 2022
Assessment Year 2021-22 Act, 1961 2021
• In case of an individual resident in India referred to section 207 (2) of the Income Tax Act,
tax paid under section 140A of Income Tax Act, within the due date (without extension),
shall be deemed to be the advance tax.
• However, for taxpayers, whose entire income tax liability is not discharged by TDS and
advance tax and such shortfall is more than Rs 1 lakh, they should file their ITR within the
respective original due date to avoid charge of interest.
• Under Section 234A of Income Tax Act, interest is levied for delay in filing the income tax
returns at 1% per month or part of a month.


May 16 To 22 2021 Rbi GR B Sebi GR A Nabard GR A Lyst6837

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1|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.

Let us look at RBI Gr B first:

Phase 1 – GA Phase 2 – ESI Phase 2 – FM

Now let us take a look at NABARD Gr A and B examination:

Phase 1 – GA Phase 1 - ESI Phase 1- ARD Phase 2 – ESI Phase 2 –

Why this division?

Example of the Previous Year Questions:

E) None of the above

Let us take another example.

E) None of the above

3|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

Let us take one last example:

Q.In which of the following years was e-NAM launched?

E) None of the above

What about this question?

What are those areas? Let us consider some examples:

C) Utpal Kumar Ganguly

E) None of the above

4|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

E) None of the above

How to read this document for Phase 1?

How to read this document for Phase 2?

5|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

Questions asked in NABARD Gr A 2020 – Phase 2

A) USD 558.5 billion

B) USD 455.5 billion

C) USD 659.6 billion

D) USD 252.9 billion

E) None of the above

Answer : USD 558.5 billion

Q. Paragraph – Framework for Bank Frauds

E) None of the above

Answer : Signals (Early Warning Signals)

6|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

7|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

8|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

9|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

10 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

11 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.3 CCI approves internal restructuring of IBM Corporation

1.4 Government takes steps to ramp up availability of Amphotericin B

13 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.7 TCS launches cloud-based subscription solution for media clients

1.8 Google launches “Showcase” to train journalists in digital skills

14 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.11 Government of India to set up 'Defence Enclave'

1.12 Carlyle sells 4.2% in SBI Life

1.13 Government has launched indigenously-developed COVID-19 drug 2-DG

1.15 DST institute develops new multiplex RT-PCR kit

15 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.17 PayPal has introduced digital Foreign Inward Remittance Advice

1.18 IDRBT is building next generation Digital Financial Infrastructure

1.20 DRDO has developed antibody detection kit for COVID-19

16 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.23 India has organised first BRICS energy meet

1.25 SECI Organizes Online Yoga Workshop for Employees

17 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.28 Export of GI certified Gholvad Sapota (chikoo) to UK begins

1.29 EPCH organizes 51st IHGF –Delhi Fair-2021

18 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

19 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.35 OneWeb partners SoftBank to roll out satellite communication services