1. NITI Aayog released the report titled “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India”
Government of India think -tank, NITI Aayog recently released a report titled “ Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India ”. The report highlights the good and innovative practices adopted by state governments and organizations in various aspects of the millets value-chain with a special focus on production, processing and consumption. The report is divided into three themes, which include State Missions and Initiatives for Promotion of Millets, Inclusion of Millets in ICDS, and Use of Technology for Research and Development and Innovative Practices. The report provides a set of good and innovative practices that have been adopted by state governments and organizations in these disciplines.
2. For the first time in the history of Ladakh, the Australian High Commission in India announced government assistance for a project in Kargil
For the first time in the history of Ladakh , the Australian High Commission in India has announced government assistance for a project in Kargil . The announcement was made at a special meeting held in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell . The project, titled ” Back to the Roots “, aims to integrate traditional knowledge into the science curriculum of school education. This is a step towards achieving the goals of the National Education Policy. Under this, science related activities will be increased among school children of tribal background.
3. Defense Minister hands over a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault Ship to Maldives on the second day of his visit
On the second day of his 3-day visit to Maldives , Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault Ship to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) on May 02, 2023 . The Fast Patrol Vessel is capable of coastal and offshore surveillance at high speed and was commissioned as Coast Guard Ship ‘ Hurvi ‘ of MNDF. Maldivian President Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Defense Minister Ms. Maria Ahmed Didi were present on the occasion.
4. Claims can be submitted till the 30th of the next month under the government’s Vivad se Vishwas scheme
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has launched the scheme “Vivad Se Vishwas – I Relief to MSMEs” to provide relief to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) during the Covid period. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, issued an order on 06.02.2023 indicating the broad framework of the scheme. Final instructions in this regard were issued on 11.04.2023 for extension and relaxation of refund limits to cover the losses suffered by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by COVID. The scheme was launched from 17.04.2023 and the last date for claim submission is 30.06.2023.
5. Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan-MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed today between Social Justice and Empowerment Department and Art of Living to make Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan more effective and comprehensive
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan -MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed between Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and Art of Living to make Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan more effective and comprehensive . The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment and Art of Living Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a function held at Dr. BR Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
6. Santiago Peña becomes the new President of Paraguay
44-year-old conservative leader Santiago Peña has won the presidential election in Paraguay . Santiago is an economist. With Peña’s victory, it has been decided that the right-wing Colorado party will once again form a government in Paraguay. In Paraguay, for most of the time in the last 76 years, only the Colorado Party has been in power. While left-wing governments are returning to power throughout the South American region, right-wing politics still dominates in Paraguay.
7. FAO released a report titled “Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes”
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has recently published a paper titled “ Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes”.released a report titled. The report highlights the importance of animal food products such as meat, eggs and milk in achieving global nutrition goals. The world is not on track to meet the nutrition targets set by the World Health Assembly and the United Nations’ mandated Sustainable Development Goals. However, terrestrial animal source food (TASF) may help achieve milestones related to reducing stunting and wasting in children under the age of five. In addition, TASF can help tackle various health issues such as low birth weight, anemia among women of reproductive age, overweight among children under five, and obesity among adults. TASF is a rich source of macro-nutrients such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. TASF intake can overcome iron and vitamin A deficiency, It is common among children and pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, TASF is a source of micronutrients.
8. ISRO’s commercial arm In-Space informs that PSLV Orbital Application Module POEM-2 has been successfully used in space
In-Space, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation-ISRO, has reported that the PSLV Orbital Application Module POEM-2 has been successfully used in space. In-Space Technical Director Rajeev Jyoti said that Poyam-2 and seven other satellites are doing fine in space. These include satellites of non-governmental companies. The data obtained from these will open doors of new opportunities in future. He said that In-Space is providing technical and operational support to Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space, Bangalore-based Bellatrix Aerospace and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. These satellites were sent into space on April 22 from Sriharikota by PSLV-C55 rocket.
9. Ministry of Tourism is participating in Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) 2023 to be held in Dubai from 1st to 4th May
Ministry of Tourism , Government of India is participating in the Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) 2023 to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 01 to 04 May. Arabian Travel Mart is one of the leading global events in the travel and tourism industry, attracting visitors and exhibitors from around the world. India’s participation in the Arabian Travel Mart 2023 is a significant step towards promoting India as a preferred travel destination among the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets.
10. With 50 days left for the International Day of Yoga in Rajasthan, a grand yoga program was organized in Jaipur.
Jaipur ‘s Shri Bhavani Niketan College on 50 days left for International Yoga Day in Rajasthan A grand yoga program was organized in The program was organized by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga. Addressing the program, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra has said that the basic foundation of Indian culture is yoga. Yoga is the biggest medium of self-development. Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that we should adopt yoga to make life successful. Shri Sonowal said that the Ministry of AYUSH, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Defense and Indian Navy are also exploring the possibility of conducting Common Yoga Protocol demonstrations at important ports around the world under the Ocean Ring and Yoga program .
11. The Delhi-based laboratory of the Defense Research and Development Organisation’s Center for Fire, Explosive and Environmental Safety (CEFIS) has developed an underground ammunition storage facility
Defense Research and Development Organisation-DRDO Delhi- based Laboratory Center for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CEFIS) has designed and developed a vertical shaft based underground ammunition storage facility . The Ministry of Defense has said that in the event of an explosion, there will be less damage to the surrounding radius and the effect of the explosion will be upward. The structure of this storage facility was successfully tested on 30th of last month. Its unique design will ensure the highest level of security to the ammunition stored here in the event of any air strike or invasion.
12. Defense Research and Development Organization and Indian Navy together successfully test-fired the first Air Droppable Container-150 (ADC) from IL-38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa
Defense Research and Development Organisation-DRDO and the Indian Navy have jointly conducted the first successful trial of Air Droppable Container-150 (ADC) from IL-38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa . The Defense Ministry has said that the ADC-150 has been indigenously designed and developed. it weighs 150 kgs Capable of knocking the contents of the sky down. The ministry has said that this test has been done with the aim of increasing the capability of the Navy’s operational system, so that critical engineering related requirements can be met immediately for ships deployed more than two thousand kilometers from the coast. This will reduce the need for ships to come closer to shore to pick up spares and other material. Three laboratories of the Defense Research and Development Organization have jointly developed this container. The ADC-150 has been jointly developed by the Naval Science and Technology Laboratory, Visakhapatnam, the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Agra and the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru.
13. India – Israel sign MoU for industrial research and development cooperation in several key technology areas
India and Israel have signed MoUs for industrial research and development cooperation in several key technology areas . These include sectors such as aviation, electronics equipment, civil, infrastructure, engineering, environment, mining, chemicals and petrochemicals, and agricultural technology. This agreement has been signed between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-CSIR and the Directorate of Defense Research and Development of the Ministry of Defense of Israel in New Delhi.
14. The International Monetary Fund said that the growth of the Asia Pacific region, led by India and China, is expected to increase by 4.6 percent this year.
The International Monetary Fund said that the growth of the Asia Pacific region, led by India and China, will be 4.6 percent this year as compared to 3.8 percent in 2022. is expected to increase. IMF gave this information in the released report of its Regional Economic Survey-Asia and Pacific. The Washington-based International Monetary Fund reports that the region will contribute about 70 percent of global growth. Asia and the Pacific will be the most dynamic of the world’s major regions in 2023. In this survey of India and China, the IMF report says that the two largest emerging economies of the region could contribute almost half of the global growth this year. In addition, the remaining economies of Asia and the Pacific can contribute an additional fifth. Asia’s dynamism will be driven by China’s recovery and India’s growth. In 2023, growth is expected to remain low in the rest of Asia along with other regions.
15. Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar announced his retirement from his post
Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar has announced his retirement from his post. Speaking at the release of the new edition of his autobiography Lok Maje Sangati in Mumbai, he made it clear that he would not contest any election after the completion of his current Rajya Sabha term. Regarding the new leadership of the party , he said that the committee of leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party will decide on the party organization and elect a new party president. Shri Sharad Pawar has been the President of the Nationalist Congress Party since 1999 when the party was formed.
16. The Central Government will set up a committee to consider the option of capital punishment
The central government has said in a document submitted to the Supreme Court that it will set up a committee to consider alternatives to the death penalty. The document was presented by Attorney General R Venkataramani today before a bench headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud . The next hearing of the case will now be in July. In the Supreme Court, advocate Rishi Malhotra had filed a petition for adopting less painful methods instead of hanging for the persons sentenced to death. The petition suggested alternatives such as lethal injection, shooting or electrocution and gas chambers instead of hanging.
17. Unique Identification Authority of India allows verification of mobile numbers and e-mail IDs enrolled in Aadhaar
The Unique Identification Authority of India has allowed verification of mobile numbers and e-mail IDs registered in Aadhaar. The authority has said that such complaints were received that residents are not clear about the mobile number and ID registered in Aadhaar. To confirm this, the Unique Identification Authority of India has decided that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has said that residents can easily check the information entered in Aadhaar with this facility. The benefit of this facility can be availed through the verified e-mail and mobile number of the official website of the authority or through m-Aadhaar app. If the associated mobile number is not registered in Aadhaar, it can be updated.
18. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chowdhury handed over parts of NN-32 aircraft to Sri Lanka Air Force for operationalization
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chowdhury to Sri Lanka Air Force for spare parts operation of NN-32 aircraft Hand over to This shows India’s commitment to capacity building towards Sri Lanka. Air Marshal Chowdhury also visited Katunayaka Air Force Station in Sri Lanka and interacted with Sri Lankan Air Force officers. Shri Chowdhury also met the students of the National Defense College of Sri Lanka. He gifted books worth one crore Sri Lankan rupees from the Indian side. Air Chief Marshal Chowdhury called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and also met senior officials of the Ministry of Defence. Mr. Chowdhury will also lay the foundation stone of the India-Sri Lanka Friendship Auditorium in Trincomalee. It is being built with a grant from India and is estimated to cost 250 million Sri Lankan rupees. The Indian Air Force chief is on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka.
19. Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan takes over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command
Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command on May 1, 2023 . An alumnus of Sainik School Kazhakootam and National Defense Academy, the Air Marshal was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 7 June 1986. He has flown more than 5400 hours on various types of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. He is a Helicopter Combat Leader and a Type Qualified Flying Instructor.
20. Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan takes over as the 17th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN)
Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan , AVSM, VM took over as the 17th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) on 01 May 2023. The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the only joint-services command in India that serves as a model for the country’s theater commands with capabilities from the country’s Army, Navy and Air Force.