National
15th Chief Minister of Assam
⇒ North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Convenor, Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam on May 10, 2021. Governor of Assam Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath of office to Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands presented their Jal Jeevan Mission Annual Action Plan
⇒ Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands presented their Jal Jeevan Mission Annual Action Plan (2021-22) charting the plan of action for the financial year 2021-22.
Achievement:
On World Water Day i.e. 22 March, 2021, Andaman and Nicobar Islands was declared to have achieved 100 percent coverage of rural households with tap water connection. After the declaration, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands became the third State/UT in the country to achieve 100% coverage of rural households with tap water supply after Goa and Telangana.
Plan for 2021-22:
The focus of the UT administration is now on ‘service delivery’, which is the essence of Jal Jeevan Mission. In the Annual Action Plan (2021-22), the UT plans to focus on the sustainability of its completed schemes in 266 villages.
1st instalment of Rural Local Bodies untied grants released for the year 2021-22
⇒ The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, on 08 May 2021 released an amount of Rs 8,923.8 crore to 25 States for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies.
These grants are for all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions – village, block and district.
Use:
The amount released is the first instalment of the ‘Untied Grants for the year 2021-22’. It may be utilised by the Rural Local Bodies, among other things, for various prevention and mitigation measures needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1st installment of Rural Local Bodies untied grants released for some State has been given below:
- Bihar- 741.8 crore
- Gujarat- 472.4 crore
- Jharkhand- 249.8 crore
- Madhya Pradesh- 588.8 crore
- Rajasthan- 570.8 crore
- Tamil Nadu- 533.2 crore
- Uttar Pradesh- 1441.6 crore
- West Bengal- 652.2 crore
SKOCH Award to Kozhikode Municipal Corporation’s Community Kitchen
⇒ Kozhikode Municipal Corporation’s Community Kitchen has been selected for SKOCH Award 2021.
The Community Kitchen project has been given the ‘Silver’ award for projects by local bodies in the country, in the sub category ‘Inspirational or Transformational Performance during COVID’.
Kozhikode Municipal Corporation’s Community Kitchen was set up during the lockdown in March-April 2020.
International
Acquisition of Ingram Micro Inc by Imola Acquisition Corporation
⇒ The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved proposed acquisition of 100% shareholding and sole control of Ingram Micro Inc by Imola Acquisition Corporation.
Imola is a newly incorporated entity belonging to Platinum Equity Group. Ingram Micro is an IT company, headquartered in US.
Sports
2021 Laureus World Sports Awards
⇒ 2021 Laureus World Sports Awards was virtually announced on 06 May 2021 from Seville, Spain. This was the 22nd edition of Laureus World Sports Awards.
2021 Laureus Sportsman/Sportswomen of the year:
Spain’s Tennis player Rafael Nadal was named the 2021 Laureus Sportsman of the year while Tennis player Naomi Osaka has been named 2021 Laureus Sportswoman of the Year, at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Read More About ‘2021 Laureus World Sports Awards’
Death
Yoga Guru Swami Adhyatmananda
⇒ Maharaj of Sivananda Ashram, Ahmedabad, Yoga Guru Swami Adhyatmananda passed away on 08 May 2021. He was 76.
He was the head of Sivananda Ashram and Ahmedabad-based Gujarat Divya Jivan Sangh.
Swami ji represented India for the World Peace Conference at Chiapas, New Mexico in 1999. He was a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the India Canada Culture and Heritage Association.
Former Union Minister, Matang Sinh
⇒ Former Union Minister and Congress leader, Matang Sinh died in New Delhi on 06 May 2021.
Mr Matang was elected to the Upper house in 1992 from Assam. During 1994 to 1998, he served as Union Minister of State in Parliamentary Affairs.
Veteran journalist, columnist, Shesh Narayan Singh
⇒ Veteran journalist, columnist, Shesh Narayan Singh passed away on 07 May 2021 in Greater Noida. He was 70.