National

1. 6 Indian places added to the tentative list of

UNESCO World Heritage list:

* 6 sites have been added to the world heritage site(UNESCO)

# Kanchipuram Temples (TN)
# Ganga Ghats of Varanasi (UP)
# Satpura Tiger Reserve (MP)
# Megalithic site of Hire Benakal (Karnataka)
# Maratha Military Architecture (Maha)
# Bhedaghat-Lametaghat, Narmada Valley Jabalpur( MP)
* these were submitted by the archaeological
Survey of India
* the department is responsible for the maintenance of indian
historical building
* the statement was announced by the Minstry of
Culture(Prahalad Singh Patel)
*Around 48 sites are in the tenative list(waiting) of the
Unesco .
*Any country can file for nomination after being on the TL list
for 1 year
*This is according to the operational guidelines, 2019

Note:
*Ganga Ghats of varanasi have been in the waiting list for
several years
* there are 84 ghats in total
* A 6.5 km long river front
* 5 ghats are sacred like:
# Asi
#Dhashasvamedha
#Manikarnika
#Panchaganga
 #Adi Keshava

Extra Info:

(i) UNESCO:
* Based in Paris
* Audrey Azoulay is the director general (2nd female presi)

(ii) World Heritage Site:

* a landmark or are governed by UNESCO
* comes with legal protection
* such sites are of:
# cultural
# historical
# scientific significance
* they are considered to have “outstanding universal value”
* this title is under the protection of the world universal and
natural heritage, 1972
* the world heritage site is the secretariat to the 1972
convention.
* there are 3 types of site:
# cultural - 30 sites (in IN)
# natural - 7 sites (in IN)
# mixed - 1 sites (in IN)
* In IN, Ahmedabad was the 1st world heritage city under
UNESCO
* the latest one is in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
******

2. Rajasthan declares Black Fungus an

“Epidemic”:
* Rajasthna has declared Murcomycosis(black fungus) an
epidemic
* This was declared under the Rajasthan Epidemic Act, 2020
* It affects people who have recovered from COVID-19.
* it caused by a group of cells called “ murcomycetes”
* spreads from the nose and affects other body parts like the
eyes

Extra Info:

(i) Amphortriecin B:
* used to treat:
# anti-fungal infections
# leshmaniasis
# blastomycosis
# candidiasis
# cryptococcosis

(ii) The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:

* controls the price of drugs in india
* consistuted under the GOI resolution, in 29th Aug 1992
******

3. CJI launches an official app for journalists to

cover proceedings of the court

* This was introduced by CJI( NV Ramana)

* journalist can now cover the proceedings of the apex court
* a new feature called “ indicative notex” is being introduced.
* it helps in understanding the court judgments in a much more
easy manner
NOTE: * HJ Kania was the first CJI of IN
* Presently 33 judges along with CJI in SC court
* SC ‘s motto is “Yato Dharamastato Jaya”
* it means ‘ where law is, thence victory”

*****

4. India gives World’s 1st Private Digital Court:

* started by a chandigarh based startup called Jupitice Justice
TEchnologies
*it is under the private justice system
* according to the world justice rpoject, around 5 billion people
don’t have acess to proper justice facilities
*it would be conducted online

*****

5. Tribal Affairs Ministry Affairs and Microsoft

sign MoU for digitization of Tribal Schools

*they signed for the transformation of tribal schools like

Eklavya Model Residential School and Ashram Schools
* Microsoft has adopted 250 Eklavya schools
* it will also teach AI

Extra Info:

(i) Ministry of Tribal affairs:

* Arjun Munda is the minister

* he is a minister of Kunti Lok SAbha consituterncy
* was c-minster of jharakhand
* set up in 1999
* was insisted by the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerement
* obj is to have a socio-economic development towards the
scheduled tribes

*****

6.Mygov, launches Innovation challenge for

creating new Indian Lang Learning app:

*launch by PM Modi
* it is created for creeating an indian language learnign app
* the asim is to preseve theunderstanding of the culture and
promote regional languages

*****
7.Tripura govt launches portal to support
business hit by the 2nd wave of COVID- 19:
*launched by CM Biplab kumar deb
*it is dubbed as “jagrut tripura”
*it provides loan and other requirements
* has around 109 schemes
* it has been classified under various categories like ,
Education, Agriculture and more.

******

8. Vaidya Aapke Dwar Yojana

* launched by Ayush minstry

* provides free medical services in:
# homeopathy
# ayurvedic
# unani
* this schme is free of cost

Extra info:

(i) Minstry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Homeopathy, Unani,

Sidha, Sowa-Rigpa and homeopathy(AYUSH);

*headed by Shripad Yaisso Naik

*****

9. Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) - 2021:

*naval representatives from 13 IN littorial countries

# bangaladesh
# indian
# comoros
# indonesia
# madagascar
*its obj was: “ Maritime Security and Non - Traditional threats :
A case for Proactive Role”.
*Indian ocean is the locus of the 21st century strategic
landscape

*****

10. Govt brings changes in existing Custom rules,

IGCR 2017 to boost facilitation

* govt has changed the the existing customs rules, 2017

*the new changes have brought in the custom amendment
rules, 2021
 *****

11. Chatiis govt to fund education fee for

orphaned children during COVID-19:

* govt provides this facility under “Chattisgeragh Mahtari Dular

Yojana”
* Rs 1000 will be provided p/m for 10-12
* RS 500 p/m for 1-8
*both p[rivate and public schools can avil it
* this schme focus on children who have lost their parents due
to covid

Extra Info:

(i) Chattisgarh :

* formed on Nov 1, 2000 from MP

* has 6 gondi distriocts and 10 chatiisgrahi districts
* cap - raipur
* governor - Anusuiya uikey
* pm - Bhupesh Baghel (3rd and currenttly)

*****

12. Jharkhand clinches 1st rank for implementing

smart city mission schemes

* in the recent ranking released by the Union Ministry of

Housing
and Urban Affairs,
*progress of the implementation of the Smart City
Mission‘s schemes running in different 100 cities of the
Country‘s 36 states and union territories.
*Jharkhand‘s Capital Ranchi has risen to 12th position in terms
of progress of the ongoing
mission plans in 100 cities
* ranking:
# 11 - Delhi
# 27 - Bihar
# 41 -New Delhi Municipal Corporation
# 68 - Patna

Extra info:
(i) Smart Cities Mission :
* an urban renewal and retrofitting program by GOI
* mission to develop smart cities across the country, making
them citizen friendly and sustainable.
*The Union Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for
the mission
* The mission initially included 100 cities, with the deadline for
completion of
the projects set between 2019 and 2023.
*completion of all projects is now at 11%.
*It is a five-year program in which, except for West Bengal,
*all of the Indian states and Union territories are participating
by nominating at least one city for the Smart Cities challenge.
*Each city will create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), headed
by a full-time CEO, to implement the Smart Cities Mission.

*****

13.Karnataka ranks first in executing

Ayushman Bharat
* 1st to establish health and wellness centres (HWC) under the
Ayushman Bharat programme
* provide comprehensive primary health care in rural areas.
*score of 90 out of 95, in 2020- 21 told health and family
welfare department.
*The Centre target - 2,096 PHCs to HWCs.; finished: 2,168
PHCs
* target - 294 urban PHCs; finished - 364 PHCs.
*The Centre target - 4,653 HWCs; finished - 5832

Extra info:

(i)Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya

Yojana
* aka Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Scheme
abb. NHPS
*aims to provide free access to healthcare for 50 crore people
in the country.
*PM-JAY provides free secondary health care for specialist
treatments & tertiary health care for hospitalization.
*UOI first announced the Ayushman Bharat Yojana as a
universal health care plan in February 2018 in the 2018 Union
budget of India.
*In his 2018 Independence Day speech Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced that India would have a major
national health program later that year on 25
September,
*also commemorating the birthday of Pandit Deendayal
Upadhyaya.

*****
14.Govt asks WhatsApp to withdraw privacy
policy update
* The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology sent
notice to WhatsApp asking the messaging platform to withdraw
its updated privacy policy.
* the updated privacy policy undermines the values of
informational privacy and data security.
* The ministry asked the Facebook to roll back its privacy policy
update
* reason: saying that the manner of introducing these changes,
including in FAQs, undermines the sacrosanct values of
informational privacy, data security and user choice for Indians
and harms the rights and interests of Indian citizens.
*MeitY has given WhatsApp seven days to respond to its letter,
and said ―if no satisfactory response is received, necessary
steps in consonance with law will be taken.

Extra info
(i) WhatsApp Messenger
* American freeware, cross-platform centralized messaging and
voice-over-IP (VoIP) service
*owned by Facebook, Inc.
* The client application was created by WhatsApp Inc. of
Mountain View, California,
* acquired by Facebook in February 2014 for approximately
US$19.3 billion.

*****
15.Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan
chairs opening session of 33rd meeting of Health
Ministers of Commonwealth countries
* Dr Harsh Vardhan chaired the opening session of the 33rd
meeting of Health
Ministers of Commonwealth countries .
*The theme - Commonwealth Response to COVID-19: Ensuring
Equitable Access to Vaccines and Building Resilience for Health
Systems and Emergencies.

Extra info:

(i) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

* ministry charged with health policy in India.

* responsible for all govt programs relating to family planning
in India.
*The Minister of Health and Family
Welfare holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of
Ministers.
* current minister is Harsh Vardhan.
* Rajkumari Bibiji Amrit Kaur 1st Health MiniOIn 1947- 1957.

*****
16.Centre to fund startups offering indigenous
solutions to combat Pandemic

* the Centre has come with a new initiative, NIDHI4COVID2.0.

*it is to support indigenous solutions and innovative products
to combat the pandemic,
*NIDHI4COVID2.0 will fund eligible startups & companies
registered in
India
* it offers solutions in the thrust areas of oxygen
innovation,and that addresses or mitigates various challenges
being faced due to COVID-19.
* development and manufacturing of products parts is
currently being imported for devices like Oxygen Concentrators
would also be considered for Seed Support
through DST supported network of Technology business
incubators.
*The ministry promised startups will be provided with financial
and mentoring support for scaling
up their products and technologies and speeding up their
processes, helping them reach the product
deployment stage as fast as possible.

*****

17.N S Tomar launches National Mobile

Monitoring Software app
* Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched
National Mobile Monitoring Software, NMMS app and Area
officer
*monitors through Video-Conferencing.
* App permits taking real time attendance of workers at
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksites along with geotagged
photograph
* Area Officer Monitoring App facilitates them to record their
findings online along with time stamped and gocoordinate
tagged photograph for all the schemes of Department of Rural
Development.

Extra info:

(i) The Ministry of Rural Development:

* entrusted with the task of accelerating the socio-economic
development
of rural India.
* focus is on health, education, drinking water, housing and
roads.
*Narendra Singh Tomar current Minister of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare, Minister of Rural Development and Minister
of Food Processing Industries
* In 2019, he was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from Morena.

*****

18.In a first in India, Jharkhand started mobile

Covid-19 vax drive
* Jhark govt launched a mobile Covid-19 vaccination
programme
* this is for beneficiaries who are living in urban as well as rural
areas by the end of May.
*If implemented, the programme will be the first in India.
* custom-made mobile vaccination vans will be dispatched to
localities in a city or in
block headquarters in rural areas.
*The beneficiaries will be able to register themselves on the
spot and take their jabs.

Extra info:

(i) Jharkhand:
*Jharkhand state in eastern India, carved out of the southern
part of Bihar on 15 November 2000.
*Ranchi is its capital
*Dumka its sub capital.
*Draupadi Murmu is the current and first woman Governor of
Jharkhand.
*Hemant Soren CM of Jharkhand.
*Jharkhand means -land of bush or forest

*****

Important days

(1) World Hypertension Day:

* celebrated on May 17
* theme: “Measure your blood pressure, Control it, Live
Longer”

(2) International Mueseum Day:

* celebrated on 18 May
* theme - “The future of Mueseums : Recover & Reimagine”
* co-ordinated by Int Mueseum of Council
*Theme: “The future of mueseums: Recover and Reimagine”

(3) World Bee Day:

* 4th time
* on 20 May 2021
* organized by FAO
* theme ―”Bee engaged – Build Back Better for Bees”

(4)International Tea Day 21 May

* 21st of May.
*First-ever International Tea Day was on 21 May 2020
*theme for this day as ―Tea and Fair Trade‖.

(5)International Day for Biological Diversity 2021

* May 22.
*create awareness about biodiversity issues.
*The theme ―We‘re part of the solution #ForNature.

*****

AWARDS
(1) Andrea Meza crowned Miss Universe 2021

* Miss Mexico Andrea Meza winner out of the 74 women who

competed in the competition.
*The 26-year-old Andrea, who had previously won the Miss
Mexico crown in 2019, took home the Miss Universe crown

(2)Miss Universe 3 rd runner-up Adline Castelino


*LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2020 Adline Castelino returned to
India after being ranked the third runner-up
at the 69th Miss Universe pageant.

(3)Naturalist Jane Goodall wins 2021 Templeton

prize for life‘s work

*The naturalist Jane Goodall has been announced as the 2021
winner of the Templeton prize in recognition
of her life‘s work on animal intelligence and humanity.
*Goodall built her global reputation on her
groundbreaking studies of chimpanzees in Tanzania in the
1960s.

(4)British Indian chemist Shankar

Balasubramanian in Millennium Technology Prize
winning team for revolutionary DNA tech

*Cambridge University chemists Shankar Balasubramanian and
David Klenerman were declared the
winners of the 2020 Millennium Technology Prize, a prestigious
global science and technology prize
awarded for their development of revolutionary sequencing
techniques which means DNA can now be read
in super-fast times.
*The prize, awarded by Technology Academy Finland (TAF) at
two-year intervals since 2004 - when Sir
Tim Berners-Lee was honoured for his discovery of the World
Wide Web - to highlight the extensive impact of
science and innovation on the wellbeing of society, is worth
Euro 1 million.

(5)Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank conferred

International Invincible Gold Medal‘ of this year

*International Invincible Gold Medal of this year has been
conferred on Union Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal
Nishank.
*The decision was made after due deliberations by a high-
powered committee duly
constituted under the leadership of Dr Tony Nader.
 Dr Nader lauded the Union Education Minister for his
continuous support and commitment to the world
peace program and propagating ancient Vedic values, wisdom
and traditional knowledge in the most scientific
manner.
*The honour was announced at a two-day virtual session which
was attended by representatives from
over 110 countries.
*The award will be formally presented to the union minister on
Guru Purnima this year.
*****