Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2017

Notes:
Kerala has topped the 2017 Public Affairs Index (PAI) in governance indicators, followed by Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The report was based on a wide range of themes such as essential infrastructure, support to human development, social protection, women and children, crime, law and order, delivery of justice, environment, transparency and accountability, fiscal management and economic freedom. The purpose of the PAI is to rank the states of India objectively in the field of governance based on various focus subjects and indicators and is an initiative of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC).

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Lewis Hamilton, a British Formula One racing driver from England, has won the 2017 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix tournament at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona. It is the 71st season of Formula One motor racing.

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Pranay Varada, an Indian-American student, has won the prestigious $50,000 National Geographic Bee competition for year 2017. For the past one decade, this competition has been dominated by Indian-Americans. Another Indian-American from New Jersey Veda Bhattaram finished third at the finals and got $10,000 worth scholarships. This year, six of the 10 finalists were Indian-Americans.

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The International Museum Day (IMD) is observed every year on May 18 to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. The day provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them as to the challenges that museums face. The 2017 theme “Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums” focuses on the role of museums that, by working to benefit society, become hubs for promoting peaceful relationships between people. It also highlights how the acceptance of a contested history is the first step in envisioning a shared future under the banner of reconciliation.

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Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has presented the 2015 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at a function in New Delhi on May 18, 2017. Apart from this, the 2014 Indira Gandhi Peace Prize has been given to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for historic Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which was received by the ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar on behalf of the space body. The award consists of a trophy, a cash prize of Rs 1 crore and a citation. The award

Notes:
R. Vaishali from India has won the 2017 Asian Continental Women Blitz Chess Championship with 8 points from nine rounds in Chengdu, China. She was at her best in the Blitz event and won seven games and posted two draws in the nine-round event. Vaishali drew her final round game against Uurt-saikh Uuriin-tuya of Mongolia to finish half-a-point ahead of Iran’s Saras-dat Khademal-sharieh and clinch the gold medal. Her compatriot Padmini Rout finished 3rd with seven points after a last round win over Yuxin Song of China.

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Sher Bahadur Deuba, a Nepali Congress leader, will become the new Prime Minister of Nepal, after Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” resigned from the post. The resignation is to honor an accord signed in August 2016 when Prachanda was elected the prime minister with Deuba’s support. According to the agreement, Prachanda was to remain in office until the local elections were held while polls at the provincial and central levels were to be conducted under Deuba as the Prime Minister. He was elected as the 39th prime minister of Nepal after forging an alliance with the Nepali Congress on August 3, 2016.

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The 70th edition of World Health Assembly (WHA70) has started in Geneva, Switzerland on May 22, 2017 and ends on May 31, 2017. In it, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia has elected a new Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO). He will succeed Dr. Margaret Chan and will take office for a five-year term on July 1, 2017. From India, J P Nadda, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has addressed the plenary meeting on the theme – ‘Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: building better systems for health’. The WHA is the forum through which the WHO is governed by its 194 member states. It is the world’s highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states.

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The 43rd edition of G7 summit has started at Taorminain Sicily, Italy on May 26, 2017. The 2-day meet will discuss a wide range of issues, including global economy, security and energy. The leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations as well as representatives of the European Union are participating in the summit. The 2017 G7 summit is the first summit for British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and U.S. President Donald Trump. The G7 members are Italy, Canada, France, United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.

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The Kerala Tourism has won the ‘Best Destination for Romance’ for Munnar hill station by the magazine ‘Lonely Planet’ at its 6th edition of ‘India Travel Award 2017’ in Mumbai on May 25. The hilly Munnar town in Idukki district is famous for its romantic cottages, cloudy mountains, lively tea gardens, green valleys and the soothing background sound of waterfalls.