CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 19th MAY, 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 19^th MAY, 2023

1. Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran has been given France’s highest civilian award Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur for his contributions to strengthen the trade relationship between India and France.  
2. Researchers at Mizoram University and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tubingen, Germany, have discovered a new species of flying gecko along the Indo-Myanmar border.
3. The Gajraj Corps of the Indian Army recently conducted a joint flood relief exercise called ‘Jal Rahat’ at Hagrama Bridge on Manas River in Assam.
4. The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and senior advocate K.V. Viswanathan as judges of the Supreme Court.
5. Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa reached the top of Mount Everest for the 27^th time on 17 May 2023, reclaiming the record for the most summits of the world’s highest mountain.
6. The United Nations General Assembly took a significant step towards promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation by adopting a resolution to designate 26 November as World Sustainable Transport Day.
7. The online rural education initiative ‘Pahal’ was officially launched by Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra at Government UP Sainik Inter College in Sarojini Nagar. This program, developed through a partnership between the Department of Secondary Education and IIT Kanpur, aims to provide education to rural communities through online platforms.
8. The Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturers’ Association (CPMA) of India hosted the 41^st edition of the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference 2023 (APIC 2023) in New Delhi from 18-19 May, 2023.
9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-nation tour in Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, started on 19 May and will conclude on 24 May, which includes the G-7 Summit in Japan and the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Australia.
10. Regional News Unit of Akashvani Guwahati secures second place in the Best Media category at the National Water Awards 2022.
11. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has appointed former Coal Secretary, A K Jain as the Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) for a period of five years.
12. Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on 16 May 2023, inaugurated the distribution of packaged spices through the Public Distribution System (PDS) in a grand programme at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala.
13. In a major reshuffle of the Union Cabinet, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has now been shifted to the Earth Sciences Ministry. Arjun Ram Meghwal has been assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios.
14. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved an $82 million loan to support India’s efforts in adopting global best practices for animal health management.
15. The Phase-V of Sagar Parikrama initiative was held from 17-19 May, 2023 from Raigad, Maharashtra to Canacona, Goa.
16. On 17 May 2023, India-born British industrialist and Chairman of the Hinduja Group, Srichand Parmanand Hinduja (SP Hinduja) passed away at the age of 87 in London, UK.