Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2019

Notes:
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched an awareness programme on Goods and Services Tax (GST) in collaboration with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Institute Limited to help small scale businesses. The purpose of the GST programme is to impart basic knowledge and skills required to fulfil various requirements under the GST Act. It would be beneficial to people who are engaged in maintaining accounts and filing of various indirect tax returns. The main objective of the programme is to impart skills to book keeping professionals to file various regular GST returns along with the various compliance requirements. Those who have passed Class 12 are eligible for the course, which will be offered in January and July cycle of admissions.

Notes:
The Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have signed a MoU for cooperation on various projects related to e-mobility. BHEL’s unique strength as technology developer and implementer and ARAI’s advanced facilities and expertise in design, testing and certification of mobility products, will generate synergies in implementing solutions for Electric & Trolley Bus, EV Chargers, Battery & Charger testing, etc. The ARAI is an autonomous body affiliated to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (MoHI&PE). The objectives of the Association are Research and Development in automotive engineering for industry, product design and development, evaluation of automotive equipment and ancillaries, standardization, technical information services, execution of advanced courses on the application of modern technology and conduct of specific tests.

Notes:
In a major diplomatic victory for India, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was listed as a designated terrorist by the UN Security Council 1267 Committee on 1st May 2019 after China lifted its block on the move. The move will lead to sanctions on Azhar’s travel and his ability to secure finance for his group. Significantly, the reasons for listing did not mention the Pulwama attack of February 14, for which the JeM had claimed responsibility. The reasons for designating Azhar as a terrorist as per latest listing included his support for the JeM since its founding, being associated with the Al-Qaeda by recruiting for them and “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities or supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material”. It also pointed to his role in recruiting fighters in Afghanistan. The JeM itself was sanctioned by the 1267 Committee in 2001. A UNSC designation will subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo. An assets freeze under the sanctions committee requires that all states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.

Notes:
The United Kingdom Parliament has become the first national legislative body in the world to pass national declaration (or motion) of an Environment and climate emergency. The move comes a week after 16-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg addressed UK lawmakers to demand more climate action, and in the wake of protests by climate action group Extinction Rebellion, who blocked major landmarks in London. Thus, the symbolic move recognizes the urgency needed to combat the climate crisis. The move will increase pressure on the government and is demanding that the country takes action to help avoid more than 1.5 degrees centigrade of warming, requiring global emissions to be cut by almost half of 2010 levels by 2030. It also calls for the government to work towards carbon neutrality before 2050 and for ministers to draft proposals within the next six months to restore the country’s environment and create a “zero waste economy”.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Ace Indian squash players Saurav Ghoshal and Joshna Chinappa won their respective Asian Individual Squash Championship titles in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 6. Saurav Ghoshal defeated Leo Au Chun Ming of Hong Kong 11-9, 11-2, 11-8 to win the men’s title. On the other hand, Joshna Chinappa retained her title as she beat top seed Annie Au of Hong Kong, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 in the women’s final event. Ghoshal who had become the first Indian male player to reach top ten of the world rankings is the finalist of the previous edition.

Notes:
India is officially invited to Group of 7 (G-7) industrialized nations summit along with Australia, Chile and South Africa. The summit is scheduled to be held in Biarritz, France in August 24-25, 2019. According to analysts, the invitation clearly reflects the strong strategic connect between India and France. And also, the invitation to Australia, France and Chile besides India reflects the French emphasis on the Indian Ocean and the Pacific region. The G-7 groups together the US, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Germany. This is not first time that India will be present at this exclusive club. In 2005, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had attended the G-8 +5 meet in Gleneagles in Scotland at the invitation of then British prime minister Tony Blair.

Notes:
Laurentino Cortizo has been declared the winner of 2019 presidential election of Panama. The 2019 elections have been dominated by pledges to fight corruption and to tackle Panama’s image as a money-laundering country. Cortizo is the candidate for Panama’s Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). His party was founded by military ruler Omar Torrijos in 1979, and has been out of power since 2009.

Notes:
Justice PR Ramachandra Menon has been sworn-in as the new Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. Governor Anandiben Patel administered him the oath of office and secrecy at a function at Raj Bhawan. Earlier, Menon was a judge in the Kerala High Court. As per article 217 of constitution, the Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President with the consultation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Governor of the State. The other judges are appointed by the will of President, Governor and the Chief Justice of High Court.