The First Meeting of India-EU Trade, Technology Council at Brussels
The first ministerial level meeting of India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was held on May 16 in Brussels to discuss ways to increase cooperation in strategic technologies, digital connectivity, clean energy, trade and investments. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was one of the co-chairs along with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Union Minister of state for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
The EU side was co-chaired by Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs) Dombrovskis and Vestager.
The first ministerial meeting laid the roadmap for the cooperation under all three working groups and provide direction to achieve desired outcomes before the next ministerial meeting in the coming year.
During the high level meetings with senior leadership of the European Union as well as Belgium various issues came up for discussions and that included ongoing negotiations for Free Trade Agreement (FTA), addressing issues of mutual market access, reforms in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
France Hosts Pro-nuclear Meet to Push for EU Recognition of Climate Benefits
France hosted a meeting of ministers from 16 pro-nuclear European states aimed at coordinating expansion of atomic power and urging the EU to recognise its role in meeting climate goals for 2050.
The meeting in Paris included EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson and representatives from 14 EU countries including France, Belgium and the Netherlands, plus Italy as an observer and the United Kingdom as a non-EU invitee.
As per a draft of the post-meeting, the countries would encourage the commissioner to integrate nuclear energy into the EU's energy policy by recognising nuclear alongside other green energy technologies in EU decarbonisation goals.
Bank of Baroda Launches Electronic Bank Guarantee on its Digital Platform
State-owned Bank of Baroda launched an electronic bank guarantee (e-BG) on its BarodaINSTA platform, in partnership with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL). NeSL is India's first and only Information Utility and is regulated by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
With this launch, Bank of Baroda joined a select group of banks to issue electronic bank guarantees.
Electronic bank guarantee is a start-to-end digital process across the complete lifecycle of a BG including issuance, amendment and closure resulting in substantial reduction in the turnaround time in issuing a BG, while at the same time bringing in greater security and accessibility.
Ministry for Corporate Affairs Introduces C-PACE
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) established the Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE) to streamline the process of removing companies from the MCA Register. The purpose of C-PACE is to reduce the burden on the registry and provide a convenient process for stakeholders to remove their company's name from the register.
This initiative is part of MCA's effort to make doing business and exiting easier for companies.
C-PACE will operate under the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and will handle applications for processing and disposal.
The office of C-PACE was inaugurated by R.K. Dalmia, the director of inspection and investigation at MCA.
Harihara Sahoo was appointed as the first registrar of C-PACE, which will be supervised by the Director General of Corporate Affairs (DGCoA), New Delhi.
Wipro FullStride Cloud Studio Inks partnership with Google Cloud's RaMP
IT major Wipro Limited's FullStride Cloud Studio partnered with Google Cloud's Rapid Migration Program (RaMP) to help clients accelerate their journey to the cloud and pursue a migration strategy anchored in business outcomes.
Wipro will integrate its proven framework, together with artificial intelligence (AI) and automated tooling, into RaMP, which will help clients increase efficiency, agility, and time to market.
Leveraging Wipro FullStride Cloud Studio's industrialised 'as-a-service' model, the partnership will deliver faster returns on cloud investments. Wipro FullStride Cloud Studio has a track record of helping clients achieve up to 5x faster Cloud adoption at 30 per cent lower cost, 90 per cent automated post migration activities, and 3x faster business acceptance.
This partnership with Google builds on Wipro's existing collaboration with Google and Google Cloud Professional Services Organisation and aims to deepen the value delivered to joint clients.
Saturn Dethrones Jupiter as Planet with Most Satellites
For years, ringed planet Saturn was the planet with the most moons. But it was dethroned as the 'moon king' in February 2023 after astronomers discovered 12 new moons around gas giant Jupiter, which took it's the total tally of its moons to 95. But now (in May 2023), a team of space scientists led by the University of British Columbia has discovered 62 new moons of Saturn, taking the official tally to 145. By overtaking Jupiter, Saturn also became the first planet to have over 100 discovered moons.
Saturn not only has nearly doubled its number of moons, it now has more moons than all the rest of the planets in the solar system combined.
Before this discovery, Saturn had 83 moons recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
V. Prraneeth, a 15-year-old chess player from Telangana, achieved the title of Grandmaster, becoming the sixth from the state and the 82nd in India. He secured this milestone by defeating GM Hans Niemann from the US during the penultimate round of the Baku Open 2023. This victory also helped him surpass an Elo rating of 2500, specifically 2500.5. Prraneeth obtained his first GM-norm and the title of International Master (IM) in March 2022. He earned his second GM-norm at Biel MTO in July 2022, followed by his final GM-norm at the second Chessable Sunway Formentera Open 2023 after nine months.
Shubman Gill Breaks Sachin Tendulkar's Massive Record
Gujarat Titans and Team Indian opener Shubman Gill became the first to complete a unique quadruple of centuries with tons in all formats of the game apart from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gill, who scored his maiden century in IPL 2023 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, also scored tons in Tests, ODIs and T20s this season. Three of these centuries in T20I, Test and IPL, have come at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Gill en route his century, reached his 50 off just 22 balls but without a single six in the half-century. It was the fastest fifty by a batter without hitting a six, breaking the record of Sachin Tendulkar of Mumbai Indians – who achieved this feat against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in IPL 2010.
Gill and Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar also became the first opposing pair to complete a century as well as five-wicket haul in the same innings in the IPL.
The ICC abolished the contentious 'soft signal' by on-field officials, which had often been criticised by experts as it is believed to have created more confusion for TV umpires after a decision was referred upstairs.
The 'soft signal' was used to determine the validity of catches taken inches off the ground, which couldn't necessarily be confirmed through naked eye.
Till now the on-field umpire would either signal 'out' or 'not out' based on their gut feeling. And the third umpire was compelled to go by 'soft signal' as most of the footages proved to be inconclusive.
The ICC announced changes to the 'playing conditions' after the CEC approved the recommendations from the men's cricket committee led by Sourav Ganguly and the women's cricket committee.
The major change involved the soft signal being scrapped, with umpires no longer required to give a soft signal when referring decisions to the TV umpire. The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken.
The other big announcement involved making helmets mandatory for high-risk positions. Compulsory use of helmets will be for the following: when batters are facing fast bowlers, when wicketkeepers are standing up to the stumps, when fielders are close to the batter in front of the wicket.
There was also a minor addition to the free hit rule with any runs scored off a free hit when the ball hits the stumps will be counted as runs scored from now. This would mean that batters can now be bowled off a free hit and attempt a run for the same.
The changes will come into effect on June 1, 2023 with the Lord's Test between England and Ireland, a four-day one-off match.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the 'Him' data portal, a common digital platform to improve the delivery of welfare schemes by integrating real-time and accurate data of all government bodies.
Addressing a conference organised by the Bharti Institute of Public Policy of the Indian School of Business (ISB) on governance and technology in Punjab's Mohali, Sukhu said that state government agencies should collaborate, connect, and respond to the needs of the public more efficiently by accessing accurate and real-time data.
From July 2023, the Himachal Pradesh government would start the 'Him Parivar' project which will give a special digital identity to the people of the state.
Government Makes Unique ID Mandatory for Doctors
Doctors will now have to get a Unique Identification Number (UID) to be able to practice medicine in the country, as per the new regulations by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
The UID will be generated centrally by the NMC ethics board and thereby grant the practitioner, registration in NMR and eligibility to practice medicine in India.
According to the new notification by NMC, there will be a common national medical register for all the registered medical practitioners of the country. The same will be maintained by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) under the NMC. This register will contain all the entries of the registered medical practitioners of all State Registers maintained by the various State Medical Councils and will have all relevant information regarding the medical practitioner.
The licence to practice medicine issued to a registered medical practitioner will be valid for a period of five years after which the medical practitioner will have to renew the licencing by making an application to the State Medical Council.
MEA Faces Tough Choice as Taliban Pick a New Ambassador for Delhi
The Taliban regime's decision to recall Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and appoint current Trade Counsellor Qadir Shah as the chargé d'affaires (Acting Ambassador) in his place has posed a tough decision for the government on the situation in Afghanistan and its engagement with the Taliban.
While rejecting the Taliban regime's appointment could see repercussions for India's technical mission in Kabul, accepting the Taliban's appointee would be seen as handing over the embassy in Delhi to the insurgent group that took power in Kabul in 2021, but has not received recognition from any country so far.
While most countries where Afghanistan ran missions have refused to accede to the Taliban appointments, Russia, China, Pakistan, the Central Asian states and Iran have allowed the Taliban-appointed diplomats to run the missions, and even raise the Taliban or "Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan" (IEA) flag rather than that of the democratically elected previous "Islamic Republic of Afghanistan" .
The tussle between the two became public, after Afghan media outlets published a letter from Afghans based in India accusing the existing Ambassador and other officials of corruption.
Indian Army Launches Initiative 'Together for Peace in Manipur'
With the centre closely monitoring the situation in violence-hit Manipur, the army came up with a pitch for unity. The army, after consultations, started an initiative called "Together for Peace in Manipur".
The army jointly with the state government and other stakeholders will work to make people of all communities - especially those living in remote places away from Imphal valley - feel safe.
Over 128 army and Assam Rifles columns and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been engaged in area domination exercises to ensure early restoration of complete normalcy in Manipur.
The army has listed out a four-point plan to ensure peace in Manipur. This includes day and night area domination, surveillance over designated flashpoints, engagement with civil society organisations of all communities across Manipur and deployment of quadcopters, tracker dogs and UAVs.
The forces are also stressing on domination of the Indo-Myanmar border, which is being effectively undertaken to deter any misadventure from insurgent groups.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Takes over as Deputy Chief of Air Staff
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff on Monday.
He succeeded Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986.
The Air Marshal is a qualified flying instructor as well as an experimental test pilot, with over 3,300 hours of flying experience on fighter, trainer and transport aircraft. Air Marshal Dixit commanded a Mirage 2000 squadron, a frontline fighter base in the Western sector, as well as a premier fighter training base.
He has earlier served as Principal Director Air Staff Requirement, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) at Air headquarters.
Lt Gen Devendra Sharma Appointed Chief of Staff, Western Command
Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Western Command, Chandimandir. Prior to this, he was the General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, at Jalandhar.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), he had taken over the command of Vajra Corps in February 2022. He has held varied command and staff appointments and has served in counter insurgency environment along the Line of Control, Operation Parakram, Operation Vijay and Operation Rakshak.
National Dengue Day is observed on May 16 every year to raise awareness about the mosquito-borne disease. Dengue cases usually surge in India during and after the monsoon season. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organises different events to observe National Dengue Day at several levels across the country.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare officially announced the annual observance of National Dengue Day on May 16 with an aim to educate more people about dengue and encourage them to follow preventive measures to stop its spread.
International Day of Living Together in Peace
The International Day of Living Together in Peace is celebrated annually on May 16 to encourage peace, tolerance, inclusivity, understanding, and solidarity among individuals and communities globally. Its goal is to emphasize the significance of cultivating peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and harmony among people of different backgrounds. The International Day of Living Together in Peace is an opportunity for people from all over the world to come together and celebrate peace.
In the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations recognised the importance of preventing future wars and addressing global inequality. To promote peace and equality, the UN initiated efforts like the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000 and the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World from 2001 to 2010. The adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace in 1999 further highlighted the need for long-lasting peace and non-violence.
In 2017, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed its commitment by designating May 16 as the International Day of Living Together in Peace. This day aims to foster inclusion, tolerance, solidarity, and peace among diverse communities worldwide.
International Day of Light
The International Day of Light is a global observance that occurs annually on May 16. It was established by UNESCO to celebrate the significance of light in various aspects of our lives, including science, culture, and sustainable development.
This special day was established to commemorate the anniversary of a ground-breaking achievement in the field of science, the successful operation of the laser on May 16, 1960, by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman.
International Day of Light was first introduced by the European Physical Society in 2015. The main agenda to introduce this day was to celebrate the crucial role of light-based technologies in our daily lives. Several organizations supported this proposal.
UNESCO took up the proposal and understood the importance of this day. It officially declared May 16 as the International Day of Light in 2017. This day was celebrated for the first time on May 16, 2018.
This day is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development.
Ben Whishaw Wins Best Leading Actor at BAFTA TV 2023
BAFTA Television Awards 2023, known as the UK's biggest night in TV, took place at London's Royal Festival Hall. The event celebrated the finest offerings of British television.
The hosting duties were assigned to comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
Ben Whishaw won the leading actor award and Kate Winslet won the leading actress award.
National Technology Awards 2023
Telangana's Technology Hub, popularly known as T-Hub Foundation, won the 2023 National Technology Award in the Technology Business Incubation category.
The awards were presented by the Union government's Department of Science and Technology at the closing day of the celebrations marking this year's National Technology Week.
T-Hub, said to be the world's largest innovation campus, is a start-up ecosystem facilitating collaboration between start-ups, venture capital firms, corporates, governments, and academia.
The National Technology Awards, organised by the Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, aims to acknowledge and reward Indian companies that have successfully commercialised indigenous innovative technologies. These awards, presented under five distinct categories, Main, MSME, Start-up, Tran Translational Research and Technology Business Incubator, provide a platform for the recognition of Indian industries and their technology providers who contribute to the vision of 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat' by fostering innovation and bringing new ideas to the market.
Educationist Manoj Soni took oath as the chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Soni, who joined the Commission as the member on June 28, 2017, has been performing the duties of the UPSC chairman since April 5, 2022.
He was administered the oath of office and secrecy as chairman, UPSC by Smita Nagaraj, senior most member in the Commission.
The UPSC conducts civil services examination to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.
The Commission is headed by a chairman and it can have a maximum of 10 members.
Established on 1 October 1926 as Public Service Commission, it was later reconstituted as Federal Public Service Commission by the Government of India Act 1935; only to be renamed as today's Union Public Service Commission after the independence.
H. K. Kripalani was the first Indian chairman of UPSC from April 1, 1947 to January 13, 1949.
Tungnath Temple Built by Pandavas Declared National Monument
Tungnath, located in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, is not only one of the highest Shiva temples in the world but also the highest among the five Panch Kedar temples. It was designated as a national monument. The Central Government declared Tungnath a monument of national importance in a notification. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), led by Devraj Singh Rautela, confirmed that they had been working towards this recognition for a significant period. During the process, ASI actively sought public opinions and objections regarding the declaration of Tungnath as a national heritage.
The ancient temple is located at an altitude of 3,690 metres (12,106 ft) above sea level.
The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century Hindu philosopher and reformer.
Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud hailed Justice M. R. Shah, who demitted office as a Supreme Court judge, as "Tiger Shah" and said that his practical wisdom and excellent advice helped the collegium greatly in making decisions.
With the retirement of Justice Shah, who was appointed to the top court on November 2, 2018, the number of judges in the top court has come down to 32, including the CJI. The apex court has the sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
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