Current Affairs May 07, 2019
In this post, GKToday presents Current Affairs of May 07, 2019 in Short Notes form for preparation of IBPS, Banking, CLAT, SSC, Railway, UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC, TNPSC, MPSC, KPSC and all other competitive examinations of India.
1. Mangaluru City Police has launched an all-women police patrol unit ‘Rani Abbakka Force’ for the protection of women and children. The force will cover the malls, beaches, educational institutions, places of religious importance, and public transport system in the city. It will handle issues related to eve-teasing and chain-snatching, among others. The all-women police patrol force has been named after the 16th century warrior of coastal Karnataka, Queen Abbakka of Ullal near Mangaluru, who fought the Portuguese in the 16th century. At present, 50 women policewomen have been deployed in ‘Rani Abbakka Force’ in the city, with each patrol team having five policewomen. The Rani Abbakka Force was also launched by the Udupi district police recently.
2. The 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD-2019) was held in Doha, Qatar from April 30-May 2 with theme "Partners in Progress”. Gen. (Dr) V.K. Singh (Retd), Minister of State for External Affairs led the Indian delegation. In his address, the Minister expressed profound sorrow for April 21 terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka and emphasized the need for the world community to expeditiously adopt the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (UNCCIT). On the basis of 2019 theme, Dr. Singh underlined India’s desire for working cooperatively with all ACD Member States in line with the Government of India’s approach of "Collective Efforts, Inclusive Growth”. He also urged the Member States to join the International Solar Alliance launched in November 2015.
3. Former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar has been conferred with France's highest civilian award - Chevalier de l'Ordre national de la Lgion d'Honneur - for his contribution to India-France space cooperation. Throughout his career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), including as its chairman from 2015 to 2018, Kumar fostered the historic and ambitious space cooperation between India and France. The Ordre national de la Lgion d'Honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honour) was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, and is the highest civilian award given by the French for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipient. The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Ordre national de la Lgion d'Honneur.
4. The State Bank of India (SBI) has become the first bank in the country to link its saving and loan interest rates to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s repo rate. The move assumes significance as the effective interest rate from May 1 on savings deposit above Rs 1 lakh will come down to 3.25% from 3.5%. Though, the linking of short-term loans like overdraft and cash credit facility with limit of above Rs 1 lakh will now attract an interest rate close to 8.25%. Hence, the interest rates on large SBI savings account deposits and interest rate on some short-term loans will automatically change as and when RBI changes its repo rate. This will help in better transmission of RBI's policy rates into the banking system.
5. Master Hirannaiah (85), the noted Kannada theatre personality, passed away in Bengaluru, Karnataka on May 2, 2019. He was well known for his caustic barbs on the political class dipped in humour on stage from late 1960s. Hailing from Mysuru, Narasimha Murthy was the son of theatre thespian K. Hirannaiah, who started K. Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali. He took on the stage name Master Hirannaiah after his debut in his childhood. His mega hit play was “Lanchavatara” with which he pioneered a freewheeling style, including a commentary on the day’s politics and making the play new with every staging. His other famous plays include Double Thaali, Kanya Daana, Sanyasi Samsara, Chamachavathara, Haasyadalli Ulta Palta, Kapil Mushti, Nadubidi Narayana, Bhrashtachara and Anaachaara. Based on these successes, he had starred in many Kannada language movies and TV shows.
6. Dilip Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal. He has been appointed for a period of six months on additional charge basis or till a new incumbent joins the post. It is perhaps the first official appointment of a bureaucrat in Lokpal. Prior to this post, he was joint secretary at National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Earlier, on 23rd March 2019, President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman. According to the rules, there is a provision for a chairperson and a maximum of 8 members in the Lokpal panel. Of these, four need to be judicial members.
7. King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been crowned as the Rama X of Thailand in a dazzling show of pageantry on behalf of the Thai people. This marked the first ascension of a new monarch in seven decades. The key rituals of the elaborate 3-day coronation ceremony began at the Grand Palace in Bangkok on May 4, 2019. King Vajiralongkorn is the 10th monarch of the Chakri dynasty, which has reigned since 1782. The last coronation was held in 1950 for the king's father Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thailand has been run by an arch-royalist junta since 2014. The monarchy takes primacy in the country but it is buttressed by the army. Thailand has a constitutional monarchy since 1932, but the royal family is highly revered by Thais and wields considerable power. Thailand also has strict laws, called lese majeste, which ban criticism of the monarchy. The laws have shielded the royal family from public view and scrutiny.
8. The International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed every year on May 4 to recognize and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that our communities and environment are as safe as possible. It was instituted after a proposal was emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia. The day is dedicated to thanks all firefighters for their extraordinary commitment, exceptional courage and for their selfless service.
9. US Air Force General Tod Wolters has been sworn-in as the top military officer of the 29-nation NATO military alliance. He became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR) at a ceremony on Friday at NATO's military headquarters in Mons, southern Belgium. Wolters succeeded General Curtis M. Scaparrotti. His term is likely to run two to three years, and will also be commander of U.S. forces in Europe. The NATO post of SACEUR is always held by an American military officer. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.
10. According to the latest rankings released by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), Indian shooting ace Apurvi Chandela from Jaipur has recently attained the world number 1 position in the women’s 10m air rifle event. Beside her, Anjum Moudgil also occupied the World No 2 spot in the same event to make it a one-two for India. Both the shooters have already secured the 2020 Tokyo Olympics quotas for the country.
