National
Land for Aerial Passenger Ropeway System
⇒ The Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved transfer of 1500 square metres of land belonging to Indo-Tibetan Border Police at Mussoorie to the State Government of Uttarakhand for their infrastructure project, namely, ‘Aerial Passenger Ropeway System’.
About Aerial Passenger Ropeway System:
The proposed Ropeway, a mono-cable ropeway of 5580 meters length, is being constructed under Public Private Partnership mode between Purkul Gaon, Dehradun (Lower Terminal Station) and Library, Mussoorie (Upper Terminal Station).
The estimated cost for the proposed Ropeway is Rs 285 crore. The carrying capacity of Ropeway will be 1000 persons per hour per direction.
This will significantly reduce the traffic on the road between Dehradun and Mussoorie.
Executive Director of RBI
⇒ The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Shri Jose J Kattoor as Executive Director (ED) with effect from May 04, 2021. Before elevated as ED, Shri Jose J Kattoor was heading Bengaluru Regional Office of the Reserve Bank as Regional Director for Karnataka.
PTI Journalist, Shakoor Rather's Debut Novel
⇒ Press Trust of India (PTI) Journalist, Shakoor Rather’s debut novel- ‘Life in the Clock Tower Valley’, the book focuses on insider’s view of the everyday life in Kashmir. The book is published by Speaking Tiger.
'MP Oxy Bank'
⇒ Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya launched the ‘MP Oxy Bank’. This is an initiative to provide oxygen concentrators for the benefit of Covid-19 patients.
International
COP26 People’s Advocate
⇒ World-renowned broadcaster and natural historian, Sir David Attenborough has been named COP26 People’s Advocate for the UK’s Presidency of the UN climate change summit in Glasgow this November.
The United Kingdom will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 1 to 12 November, 2021.
MoU between ICAI and QFCA
⇒ The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA).
The MoU would enhance cooperation between the Institutes to work together to strengthen the Accounting profession and entrepreneurship base in Qatar.
Seminar on 'Social Infrastructure Financing and use of Digital Technologies'
⇒ The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and the New Development Bank (NDB) are jointly organised a virtual seminar on ‘Social Infrastructure Financing and use of Digital Technologies’ on May 13, 2021.
The seminar was organised as part of the Economic and Financial Cooperation Agenda under the Indian BRICS Chairship, 2021.
This seminar was attended by high-level participants from both public and private sector.
The seminar was focused on the key issues surrounding social infrastructure financing and the use of Digital Technologies in the 21st century.
Important Day
National Technology Day 2021
⇒ In India, National Technology Day is celebrated every year on May 11, to mark the anniversary of the Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998.
On the occasion, National Awards was presented by Technology Development Board:
For the year 2021, Technology Development Board (TDB) had invited application for the National Awards under three categories. After a stringent two-tier evaluation process total 15 winners were selected for the award. Winners from the entire three categories for the year 2020-21 have been announced.
Every year, TDB seeks applications for National awards for commercialization of technologies under three categories:
Category 1: National Award for Successful Commercialization of Indigenous Technology
Category 2: National Award under MSME Category
Category 3: National Award under Technology Start-Up Category
About TDB:
Technology Development Board is a statutory body of Government of India established in 1996, functioning under Department of Science of Technology (DST) to provide financial assistance to Indian industrial concerns and other agencies.
Death
Veteran Assamese author & journalist Homen Borgohain
⇒ Veteran Assamese author & journalist Homen Borgohain passed away on 12 May 2021 in Guwahati. He was 88. He was acting as chief editor of Assamese daily Niyomiya Barta.
In 1978, Borgohain was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award for Assamese language for his novel ‘Pita Putra’.
Some of his notable works includes ‘Halodhiya Soraye Baudhan Khai’, ‘Timir Tirtha’, ‘Nisongota’, ‘Astarag’, ‘Progyar Sadhana’, ‘Matshyagandha’ etc.
Former Indian International Footballer, Fortunato Franco
⇒ Former Indian international footballer, Fortunato Franco died on 10 May 2021. He was 84.
In 1962, he was a member of the Indian national football team that won gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta. In total, the iconic midfielder Franco made 26 appearances for India.