Current Affairs Education And Job Alert

  International Workers’ Day: 1st May International Labour Day (also known as May Day or International Workers’ Day) is celebrated across the world on the 1st of May every year. The day celebrates the struggle, dedication and commitment of the working class and is an annual public holiday in several countries.  History of the day: On 1 May 1886, Chicago and a few other cities were the sites of a major union demonstration in support of the eight-hour workday demand. In 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared that in commemoration of the Haymarket affair, 1 May would be an international holiday for the labour force, now known as International Workers’ Day. Important takeaways for all competitive exams: Headquarters of International Labour Organization: Geneva, Switzerland. President of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder. International Labour Organization Founded: 1919. Amitabh Chaudhry Re-appointed as MD & CEO of Axis Bank Amitabh Chaudhry has been re...

  TV Somanathan named finance secretary by ACC The  Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)  has approved the appointment of  T V Somanathan  as the new  Finance Secretary.  He will replace  Ajay Bhushan Pandey  who superannuated in February 2021. Somanathan, a 1987 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, was currently serving as the Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finanace.  Earlier, he has served as a joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. Somanathan was awarded the Gold Medal for the Best IAS trainee of his cohort. He holds a PhD in Economics from Calcutta University and is a chartered accountant, chartered management accountant and chartered secretary. International Jazz Day: 30 April The  International Jazz Day  is celebrated on  30 April  every year to highlight the importance of jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people in all corners of the globe. The 2021 celebration marks t...

  Noted Odia and English Author Manoj Das Passes Away Eminent Indian educationist, popular columnist and prolific author, who wrote in Odia and English,  Manoj Das  has passed away. The first book of Das was of poetry called  ‘Satavdira Artanada’,  in Odia, which was published when he was in high school. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2020 for his contributions in the field of literature and education.

  Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja becomes ASICS brand ambassador Japanese Sportswear brand  ASICS  announced that it has appointed  Ravindra Jadeja,  the all-rounder of the Indian cricket team and Chennai Super Kings as its brand ambassador. The company, which focuses on sporting gear for the running category.  ASICS has been working with young and fresh athletic talent across various genres of sports. In India, ASICS is promoted by actor  Tiger Shroff.  In Asia, ASICS currently has over 55 stores across  India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

  Krithi Karanth becomes 1st Indian woman to get ‘Wild Innovator Award ’ Dr. Krithi K Karanth,  Chief Conservation Scientist at Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), has been chosen as the first Indian and Asian woman for the 2021  ‘WILD Innovator Award’.  This award given by the ‘ ‘WILD ELEMENTS Foundation”  brings together a coalition of innovators, advocates and partners to “disrupt the status quo and identify solutions to global sustainability and conservation,”. The Foundation’s distinctive approach to addressing climate change is the “Power of Three,” recognising the interconnectedness of animal-kind, humankind, and plantkind for the future planetary wellness of our shared home.

  DRDO Conducts Maiden Trial of Python-5 Air to Air Missile Using LCA Tejas The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully test-fired the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) from Tejas aircraft, at Goa. This adds the Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in the air-to-air weapons package of India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas. The trials also aimed to validate the enhanced capability of the already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas. Python-5 air-to-air missile (AAM) has been manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel and is one of the most sophisticated guided missiles in the world. 

  China Launches Robot Prototype ‘NEO-01’ Clear Space Debris The Chinese government has launched a robot prototype named as ‘NEO-01’, in the Earth’s low orbit, on its Long March 6 rocket. The 30kg robot prototype has been developed by Shenzhen-based space mining start-up ‘Origin Space’. Main Purpose: To observe small celestial bodies in deep space and to experiment with space debris removal techniques. NEO-01 will use a large net to capture debris left behind by other spacecraft and then burn it using its electric propulsion system.

  India Ranks 49th in Chandler Good Government Index 2021 India has been placed at 49th position among 104 nations in the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2021. Finland has topped the CGGI Index 2021 and Venezuela is the last ranked country at 104. Index Rank 1: Finland Rank 2: Switzerland Rank 3: Singapore Rank 4: Netherlands Rank 5: Demark About the Chandler Good Governance Index: The Chandler Good Governance Index is released by the Chandler Institute of Governance headquartered in Singapore. The index is prepared based on seven pillars namely leadership and foresight, strong institutions, robust laws and policies, attractive market place, financial stewardship, helping people rise, global influence and reputation.

  International Dance Day observed globally on 29 April The International Dance Day is observed globally on 29 April every year. The day celebrates the value and importance of the dance and encourages participation and education in this art form through events and festivals. The day 29 April has been chosen as it marks the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), who is known as the creator of modern ballet. The theme of International Dance Day 2021: ‘Purpose of dance’ The day was created in 1982, by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. Important takeaways for all competitive exams: International Theatre Institute Founded: 1948. Headquarters of International Theatre Institute: Paris, France.

  ADB Projects India’s GDP to grow 11% in FY22 The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected the growth rate of India’s economy, in its latest flagship Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021, as follows: FY22 (2021-22): 11% FY23 (2022-23): 7% ADB has based the rate on the “strong” vaccine drive being undertaken across the country, however, it has also cautioned that the recent surge in COVID cases may put the country’s economic recovery at “risk”. Important takeaways for all competitive exams: President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa; Headquarters: Manila, Philippines. ADB Established: 9 December 1966.

  IHS Markit Estimates GDP Growth Rate of India at 9.6% for FY22 London-based financial services company  IHS Markit  has projected the GDP growth rate of the Indian economy to grow at  9.6 per cent  in  FY22 (2021-22).  The revision is based on factors like ongoing lockdown and mobility curbs coupled with fears of an extension, time-wise and across more Indian cities.

DRDO develops single crystal blades for helicopter engines The  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)  has developed single-crystal blades technology for helicopters and has supplied 60 of these blades to  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)  as part of their indigenous helicopter development programme for engine application. The DRDO will develop a total of  five sets (300 blades) of single-crystal blades. This is part of a programme taken up by the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) to develop five sets of single-crystal high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades using a nickel-based superalloy. Important takeaways for all competitive exams: Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy. DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi. DRDO Established: 1958.

  Uttar Pradesh won e-panchayat award The Uttar Pradesh government won the “E-Panchayat Puraskar 2021”, ranking first in Category I. It was followed by Assam and Chhattisgarh at the second position, while Odisha and Tamil Nadu stood third. Every year, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj awards those states, which ensure maximum use of information technology to keep a tab on the work done by gram panchayats. Important takeaways for all competitive exams: UP Capital: Lucknow; UP Governor: Anandiben Patel; UP Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath.

A new book title “Living Mountain” by Amitav Ghosh “The Living Mountain” is a new story by Jnanpith winner and internationally renowned author Amitav Ghosh, written during the course of the pandemic. It is a fable for the current times: a cautionary tale of how humans have systematically exploited nature, leading to an environmental collapse. HarperCollins Publishers India will publish The Living Mountain as a special standalone edition in January 2022 under its prestigious Fourth Estate imprint. The book will also be published simultaneously in Hindi, and as an ebook and an audiobook.

  China names its first-ever Mars rover “Zhurong” China has named its first-ever Mars rover “Zhurong” after an ancient fire god ahead of a landing attempt on the Red Planet in May. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) revealed the name at the sixth China Space Day held in Nanjing. The Chinese name for Mars, “Huoxing,” literally means “fire star.” Zhurong was the most popular of 10 shortlisted names for a public vote that opened in January, and that choice was backed by an expert panel and the CNSA itself. The rover carries panoramic and multispectral cameras and instruments to analyze the composition of rocks. Zhurong will also investigate subsurface characteristics with ground-penetrating radar if all goes according to plan. Important takeaways for all competitive exams: China Capital: Beijing. China Currency: Renminbi. China President: Xi Jinping.

  World Day for Safety and Health at Work: 28 April World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed globally on 28 April every year. This day is observed to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally and raise awareness to ensure health and safety at the workplace. The theme for 2021 is “Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises – Invest Now in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health Systems”. History of World Day for Safety and Health at Work: The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It is persisted  28 April  and has been observed by the  International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003. Important takeaways for all competitive exams: Headquarters of International Labour Organization: Geneva, Switzerland. President of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder. International Labour Organization Founded: 1919.

India third highest military spender in 2020 India has retained its position as the third biggest military spender in the world in 2020, according to new data titled  ‘SIPRI Military Expenditure Database’  published by the  Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)  on April 26, 2021. Top 5 nations As per the new report, the top five biggest spenders in 2020 were the United States ($778 billion), China ($252 billion), India ($72.9 billion), Russia ($61.7 billion) and the United Kingdom ($59.2 billion) respectively. These five nations together accounted for 62 per cent of global military expenditure. Global Expenditure Globally, the military spending in 2020 rose to $1981 billion. This value is an increase of 2.6 per cent in real terms as compared to 2019.