National
RBI's series of measures to support the nation during COVID-19
⇒ The RBI Governor Shri Shaktikanta Das on 05 May 2021 announced a series of measures to support the nation’s fight against the second wave of COVID-19 infections. These measures form the first part of a calibrated and comprehensive strategy against the pandemic.
These include:
- Term Liquidity Facility of ₹ 50,000 crore to Ease Access to Emergency Health Services
- Special Long Term Repo Operations for Small Finance Banks
- Lending by Small Finance Banks (SFBs) to MFIs for on-lending to be classified as priority sector lending
- Credit flow to MSME Entrepreneurs
- Stress Resolution Framework 2.0 for Individuals, Small Businesses and MSMEs
- Rationalization of KYC norms for enhanced customer experience
- Floating Provisions and Countercyclical Provisioning Buffer
- Relaxation of overdraft facility for states
100th 12000 HP WAG 12 B Locomotive
⇒ Indian Railways inducted 100th 12000 HP WAG 12 B in Indian Railways fleet. The loco is named WAG 12 B with number 60100. The locomotive is manufactured by Madhepura Electric Locomotive Pvt Ltd (MELPL).
These locomotives are state of the art IGBT based, 3 phase drive and 12000 horse power electric locomotive. This locomotive is capable of maximum tractive effort of 706 KN.
International Conference on "Rural Transformation: From Natural to Cultural"
⇒ The International Conference on “Rural Transformation: From Natural to Cultural” was organized by Center for Rural Development and Innovative Sustainable Technology (CRDIST), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. It was an online conference, held on May 5 and May 6, 2021.
Inauguration:
Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director TRIFED addressed at the inaugural session of the International Conference on “Rural Transformation: From Natural to Cultural on May 5, 2021.”
In this two-day online conference, discussion was on based on the following themes, include:
- Transforming rural livelihood generation
- Hard and soft infrastructure planning and implementation
- Convergence of traditional and modern technical knowledge for social well-being
- Sustainable natural resource (water, forest, land) planning and rural health and hygiene
International
India-EU Leaders’ Meeting
⇒ At the invitation of the President of the European Council Mr Charles Michel, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting on 08 May 2021.
Host:
This was the first time that the EU hosted a meeting with India in the EU+27 format. The India-EU Leaders’ Meeting was hosted by Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr António Costa. At present, Portugal holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited to London
⇒ External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar went on a four-day visit to London primarily to participate in the G7 foreign ministers meeting, at which India was invited as a guest country.
The meeting was held from May 3 to 6 to discuss ways to deal with the coronavirus pandemic besides several other pressing issues facing the world.
At G7 foreign ministers meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed ways to deal with the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic, situation in the strategic Indo-Pacific region and cooperation in multilateral forums.
Britain, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan are the G7 member countries.
Important Day
World Password Day 2021
⇒ World Password Day 2021 was celebrated on 06 May. It is celebrated every year on first Thursday in May since 2013 to take control of our personal password strategies.
Death
Aeronautical scientist, Manas Bihari Verma
⇒ Aeronautical scientist, Manas Bihari Verma died in Darbhanga, Bihar on 04 May 2021. He was 78.
Verma was a close friend of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, he had played an important role in the development of Light Combat Aircraft – Tejas.
Verma had launched “Mobile Science Laboratory” (MSL) vans in 2010 in the rural areas of Bihar. The Mobile Science Laboratory was launched to impart knowledge in science to children.
He was conferred with Padma Shri award in March 2018.
Founder and chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Chaudhary Ajit Singh
⇒ Founder and chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Chaudhary Ajit Singh died in Gurugram on 06 May 2021. He was 82.
Ajit Singh was a seven-time MP from Baghpat. He was the Union minister of industry from December 1989 to November 1990. Later, he served as the Union minister of food in the PV Narasimha Rao cabinet and again as the minister of agriculture in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
