1) Oxford University award given to Indian-origin teacher.

• An Indian-origin teacher has been honored by Oxford University for helping one of her students get into the world-famous varsity. Gurnimrat ‘Nimmy’ Sidhu, head of science at Oaks Park High School in north-east London, is among 12 teachers to win the ‘University of Oxford Inspirational Teacher Award’ set up to encourage more state-funded schools to connect with the university.
  
• About Oxford university
  
•  It is a collegiate research university.
  
•  Located in Oxford, UK.
  
•  It is the world’s second oldest university ever.
  
•  Vice- chancellor is Andrew Hamilton.
  
•  The university operates largest university press in the world.

2) Arsenal`s Alexis Sanchez wins fan award.

• Arsenal dynamo Alexis Sanchez was announced as the `Professional Footballers` Association (PFA) Fan`s Player of the Year` after an excellent first season in English football.
  
•  His performances saw him named on the six-man shortlist for the PFA`s Player of the Year award, which went to Chelsea`s Eden Hazard.

3) Indian-American kids sweep Spelling Bee contest.

• Indian-American kids won the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee contest by winning the prestigious competition for the 8th year in a row.
• Vanya Shivashankar and Gokul Venkatachalam were declared co-champions, a feat achieved by Indian Americans for the second consecutive year.
•  In 2014, Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe were declared the joint winners.
•  Vanya previously competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2010, 2012 (tied for 10th place), 2013 (tied for 5th place) and 2014 (tied for 13th place).

4) Anand Kumar, Founder of Super 30, honoured in Canada.

• Super 30 founder and mathematician Anand Kumar was honoured by Legislature of British Columbia in Canada at Toronto University for his pioneering work in the field of education.
• The Speaker Linda Reid honoured Kumar with a memento and also appreciated his endeavour at a proposal.
•  The 42-year-old Kumar was honoured for his rare achievements for the students from India`s underprivileged sections.
•  Kumar was invited by the British Columbia Government in recognition of his work through globally acclaimed Super 30, which has mentors 30 students mostly from the underprivileged sections of the society for IITs free of cost for the last 14 years.
• About Super30
•  Super30 established in 2002 by Anand Kumar in Patna, Bihar under the banner of Ramanujan School of Mathematics.
•  It provides free residential mentoring to 30 selected students from underprivileged families to appear in the entrance exam of IIT-JEE.
•  Super30 as an institution that has achieved international recognition for social awakening.
•  In 2010, the Time Magazine selected Super30 in the list of the Best of Asia.

Uttarakhand’s Health Minister SS Negi conferred with `World No Tobacco Day Award 2015`.

• Uttarakhand’s Medical, Health and Family Welfare Minister Surendra Singh Negi was conferred with the World No Tobacco Day Award 2015 by the World Health Organsiation (WHO).
•  He was one of the six awardees from the WHO South-East Asia Region.
•  The prestigious awards are presented to mark the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).

1) Rare hyena sighted in Kawal Tiger Reserve

• A rare Hyena has been sighted in Kawal Tiger Reserve in Adilabad district. The image of a striped hyena captured on camera at Alinagar, Dongapalli and Mallial in Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Adilabad has sent a wave of cheer among those who are working towards improvement of the habitat to bring back tigers.
  
• The hyena has appeared just when everyone concerned thought that it is extinct in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh, for that matter.

2) Army inducts indigenously-built Akash missile

• The indigenously built Akash Air Defense system has been inducted into the Army with Army Chief General Dalbir Singh receiving its symbolic key from the CMD of Bharat Dynamics Limited on 5th May. Akash is capable to engage a wide variety of aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles up to a maximum range of 25 km and up to an altitude of 20 km.

3) Advanced version of BrahMos test-fired

• An advanced version of the BrahMos land-attack cruise missile was successfully test-fired on 9th May from the Car Nicobar Islands
  
• The land-to-land configuration of BrahMos was launched from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) for its full-range of 290-km. This is the 48th test firing of the missile. This test met all flight parameters, including high-level maneuvers. A similar test was concluded successfully on 8th May too. The BrahMos missile has been jointly developed by India and Russia

1) CCG (Chennai-Colombo-Gulf) service to boost trade links.

• The launching of Chennai-Colombo-Gulf (CCG) feeder service by Simatech Shipping and Evergreen Line, two leading shipping companies in the world to Visakhapatnam Port will provide huge opportunities for new markets in the Middle East, Africa and Far-East.
• CCG Offering direct connectivity to sohar besides jebel Ali.
• The CCG will operate four container ships of 2,000 TEU each, one by Evergreen Line and three by Simatech.
• The new service will facilitate export of buffalo meat, food grains mainly rice, fly ash and steel coils to only Gulf but also the European Union, the United States and the Mediterranean.

• Delhi High Court not only denied bail to police Head Constable Anil Kumar in a corruption case but also declared that Delhi government`s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) had the jurisdiction to arrest police personnel.
• Constable Anil Kumar was arrested on corruption charges following a complaint by a scrap- dealer on the helpline no 1031.
• He decried that the constable was trying to extort Rs 20,000 from him and had threatened to implicate him in false cases.

• Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa announced development and welfare schemes worth over Rs. 1,800 crore.
• Jayalalithaa launched several schemes, including those for improvement of roads, drinking water facilities and for helping needy families headed by women.
• Jayalalithaa had sanctioned green houses for 20,000 families in the initial phase. Each family will be granted Rs. 2.10 lakh; and poor in town panchayats living in mud or thatched houses were eligible for the scheme to be implemented by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board.

4) PM Modi launches `Kisan TV` for farmers.

• Marking the first anniversary of NDA government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Kisan TV’.
• The 24X7 channel is owned by public service broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) and is dedicated to agriculture and allied sectors.
• In his Union Budget 2014 speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, had announced that a 24-hour TV channel will be dedicated to the agriculture sector, for which he had marked an outlay of Rs. 100 crore.

1. DD Kisan will disseminate real-time inputs to farmers on new farming techniques, water conservation and organic farming.
2. It will also share best farm practices in different parts of the country, quiz shows for farmers, and a bottoms-up approach involving agriculturists.
3. The channel show will also invite programme suggestions from general public and real-time interaction with experts and farm scientists.
4. Prior to launching this channel, Prasar Bharati was running ‘Krishi Darshan’ programme on DD1 for farmers. It was one of the longest running programmes on DD and was launched on January 26, 1967.

• Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley had announced that the PPP mode of infrastructure development has to be revisited, and revitalized, in which the major issue involved is rebalancing of risk.
• Union government has constituted a 10-member committee to review and revitalise public private partnership (PPP) mode of infrastructure development.
• The committee will be chaired by former finance secretary Vijay Kelkar and submit its report within a period of 3 months from the date of its Constitution.

1. Review of the experience of PPP Policy, including the variations in contents of contracts and difficulties experienced with particular variations/conditions.
2. Analysis of risks involved in PPP projects in different sectors and existing framework of sharing of such risks between the project developer and the Government, thereby suggesting optimal risk sharing mechanism.
3. Propose design modifications to the contractual arrangements of the PPP based on the above and international best practices and our institutional context.
4. Measure to improve capacity building in Government for effective implementation of the PPP projects.
5. The Committee shall submit its report within a period of three (3) months from the date of its Constitution.

• Tripura government decided to lift Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the state, where the controversial law was in effect for the last 18 years to curb insurgency.
• This Act was imposed in the state on February 16, 1997 following spurt of violence by the ultras.
• About Armed Forces Special Powers Act:
• The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is an Act of the Parliament of India which was passed on 11 September 1958.
• It is a law with just six sections granting special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in what the act terms as "disturbed areas".

• The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) has announced projects worth Rs. 325 crores for the Northeast region on the occasion of completion of one year of NDA Government.
• 200 crore will be meant for projects in the State of Assam and Rs. 125 crore for "Organic Farming Mission" for the entire North-Eastern region.

• Gujarat Government has initiated Sloth Habitat Project in Jessore wildlife sanctuary to provide better habitat to sloth bears.
• As per the last census in 2011, nearly 293 sloth bears were found in the state forests.
• The project aims at planting good amount to trees in the sanctuaries and removing unwanted plant species that have intruded in the habitat.
• This project was implemented in Banaskantha district by state forest department in coordination with the Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC).

1. The sloth bear also known as the Stickney bear or labiated bear.
2. Categorised as vulnerable species in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list.
3. Sloth bear is omnivorous animal and mainly eat honey, termites, fruits (mangoes and figs) and grass.

9) Mega Food Park Inaugurated at Nalbari, Assam.

• The first mega food park of North East will be inaugurated at Nathkuchi in Nalbari district of Assam. 
• Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal jointly inaugurated the North East Mega Food Park.
• Mega Food Park gives a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage and loss at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables.
• North East Mega Food Park has been set up in 50 acre of land at the cost of Rs. 76 crore.

1. Application for teacher education programmes. 
2. Appeal processes. 
3. Redressal of public grievances. 
4. Filing of RTI applications. 
5. Mapping of the teacher education institutions through GIS. 
6. Dynamic database of teacher education programmes and faculty database. 

• The Government of India is committed to the Flagship schemes of School Education including the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
• The Mid-Day Meal programme covers about 10.33 crore children studying in elementary schools in the government, government-aided schools and special training centres for mainstreaming the out of school children.
• The Mid-Day Meal programme is being administered in all the States and Union Territories of the country on an agreed funding pattern.
• The budget estimate for the MDM programme has been made at the level of Rs. 9236 crores for 2015-16.
• The Central Government has in fact enhanced outlays for States affected by drought for which an additional Rs. 466.70 crores has been approved under the MDM scheme to provide children at the elementary school level, with a mid day meal during the current summer vacations.

• Swachhata Saptapadi scheme launched by Maharashtra government on the lines of Union Government’s flagship Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
• The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with actor Aamir Khan who is brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Mumbai.
• The objective of the scheme is to expedite the process of cleanliness drive complete with toilet every household by October 2, 2015 and 2016.

1. A promise of participation of people in the Swachh Maharashtra campaign.
2. Mobilisation of public participation.
3. Construction of 100 per cent toilets in every corporation wards.
4. Creation of awareness about segregation of dry and wet waste.
5. Adaptation of scientific method for waste disposal.
6. Take initiative for promoting greenery and open spaces.

• The government approved signing of an agreement between India and Sweden to promote cooperation in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
• The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the two countries.
• It provides a structured framework and enabling environment to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector of the two countries to understand each other’s strengths, markets, technologies, policies etc.
• It also enables the respective MSMEs to participate in each other’s trade fairs/ exhibitions and to exchange business delegations so that joint ventures, tie-ups, technology transfer etc. could take place.

• The Union Government notified the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income as Assets) and imposition of Tax Act, 2015.
• The Act will come into effect from 1 April 2016.
• The Act prescribes tax of 30 per cent and penalty up to 90 per cent on undisclosed bank accounts and assets abroad. However, this provision will apply only to those who do not use the compliance window.
• The government will notify separate dates for the compliance window during which any Indian can disclose his/ her foreign bank account and assets, pay 30 per cent tax along with 30 per cent penalty and protect him/herself from legal action. 

1) IS takes full control of Syria`s Palmya city

• Islamic State says it has full control of Syria`s Palmyra city; United Nations deeply concerned about citizens` plight; World powers acknowledge the millitants` gains as a "setback
• Islamic State fighters tightened their grip on the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on 21st May and overran Iraqi government defences east of Ramadi, the provincial capital that they seized five days earlier.
• The twin successes not only pile pressure on Damascus and Baghdad but throw doubt on a U.S. strategy of relying almost exclusively on air strikes to support the fight against Islamic State.
• U.S. and coalition forces had conducted 18 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq since 20th May, the U.S. military said. 
• The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the al Qaeda offshoot now controlled more than half of all Syrian territory after more than four years of conflict that grew out of an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
• The monitoring group added that Islamic State had seized the last border crossing between Syria and Iraq controlled by the Damascus government. The crossing is in Syria`s Homs province, where Palmyra is located.

• The European Union and Ukraine have signed a 2 billion dollars loan deal in an effort to help revive the cash-strapped country`s economy. EU and Ukrainian officials signed the agreement today in Riga at a summit of leaders of EU nations and six post-Soviet countries.
• The deal requires Ukraine to adopt a series of reforms including anti-corruption measures to remedy structural problems in its economy. At the Riga summit, the EU also promised grants of 223 million dollars to support small and medium-sized businesses in the former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

• The UN has adopted a resolution calling for stronger cooperation in stemming the illicit transfer and misuse of small arms and light weapons, underlining the suffering they have caused to civilians
• The UN Security Council adopted the resolution on 22nd May by a vote of nine in favour to none against, with six abstentions. The text recognises the importance of preventing the illicit transfers and sales of weapons and ammunition, including small arms and light weapons, to armed groups and criminal networks that target civilians and civilian objects.
• In its resolution, the Security Council called on States to consider ratifying the Treaty or accede without delay. It identifies a wide range of areas in which international cooperation could be bolstered, recognising the importance of well-targeted and monitored sanctions regimes, appropriate UN peacekeeping mandates, effective reintegration and demobilisation programmes and security sector reform in that regard.
• In the resolution, the members of the Council advocate the establishment or strengthening, as appropriate, of subregional and regional mechanisms for cooperation, coordination and information sharing, particularly cross-border customs cooperation and information exchange networks "in order to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit transfer, the destabilising accumulation and misuse of small arms and small arms."
• The Security Council also considers it necessary that Member States put in place, if it does not exist, laws, rules and administrative procedures to allow them to effectively control the production of small arms and small arms within their jurisdiction and the export, import, transit or retransfer of such weapons.
• It also asked Member States, relevant United Nations entities and intergovernmental organisations, regional and subregional organisations in a position to do so to cooperate and exchange information on persons suspected of trafficking.

• UNICEF, the United Nations International Children`s Educational Fund and ARM have announced a multi-year partnership to accelerate the development of new technologies to overcome the barriers that prevent millions of families from accessing basic health, education and support services. ARM is a family of instruction set architectures for computer processors developed by British company ARM Holdings, based on a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture.
• The partnership`s first action is to collaborate with global product strategy and design firm frog on a `Wearables for Good` challenge to generate ideas for new and innovative devices that tackle maternal and child health needs in emerging economies.
• The partnership will focus on enabling UNICEF to provide faster and more comprehensive help to children coping with the effects of mass urbanization and increased social and economic divides. Together, UNICEF and ARM will use their influence to encourage the tech sector to innovate for impact.
• The multi-year partnership will include launch of Wearables for Good design challenge that will seek to optimise wearable and sensor technology for children`s welfare. Running over six months, the challenge invites developers, designers, community partners and problem-solvers to design a wearable device that offers a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solution to pressing maternal, newborn or child health problems.
• ARM will work alongside UNICEF`s network of Innovation Labs and country offices to identify and scale up pilot projects that demonstrate the potential to be used at a national level. Over the next year, UNICEF and ARM will uncover the most impactful solutions being used or in trials across the UNICEF network and invest to deliver them wherever they are needed.

• Ireland has become the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a popular vote - 22 years after it legalised homosexuality.
• On May 19, 1897, Wilde - one of Ireland`s most famous sons and one of Victorian era`s greatest writers was released from prison having served two years of hard labour for being a homosexual.
• The Irish constitution will now read `Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex,` according to Frances Fitzgerald, minster for justice and equality.
• The government said "Being of the same sex will no longer be an impediment to marriage. Existing civil partners may marry each other. Religious solemnisers will not be obliged to solemnise the marriage of a couple of the same sex. At a marriage ceremony, the parties to a marriage will declare that they accept each other as "husband and wife" or as "spouses of each other". There will be amendments to a number of Acts to replace the words "husband" and "wife" with the word "spouse". A change of gender would have no effect on a marriage".

• Current Affirs Indian heritage Center has been launched by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 8th May. The center is located at the heart of Little India in the city state and which blends traditional Indian and modern architectural elements
• The museum, which is the first one dedicated to Indian history, starts with the early interactions between South Asia and Southeast Asia, then goes on to feature the origins and movement of Indians from the 19th century to the 21st century.
• The Little India center received a total of 368 artifacts through a collection drive in 2011. More than 200 of these pieces are now on display.
• The center cost the National Heritage Board 16 million Singaporean dollars (around $12 million) to build and 5 million Singaporean dollars more to fit it out. Ethnic Indians comprise around 9.1 percent of Singapore`s population of 3.9 million.

• Pakistani Taliban on 10th May released a video showing its militants with a surface-to-air missile which it claimed was used to bring down an Army helicopter in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) that killed seven people including two Ambassadors.
• A video released by a jihadist media forum shows at least four masked militants with the surface-to-air missile (SAM-7B) allegedly used in hitting the Mi-17 that crashed in Naltar valley of Gilgit-Baltisitan in PoK.
• The message claimed that the missile was fired from a distance of three km to down the helicopter on 8th May. Norwegian envoy Leif H. Larsen and Domingo D. Lucenario Jr. of the Philippines were killed along with the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian Ambassadors, besides two Army pilots and a Pakistani crew member after the helicopter crashed.

8) Swedish Supreme Court rejects Assange appeal

• Sweden`s Supreme Court on 11th May has rejected an appeal by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange against his arrest warrant for alleged rape and sexual assault. Sweden issued the arrest warrant in 2010 following allegations from two Swedish women with the allegations. The Supreme Court noted in a statement that investigators have begun efforts to question Julian Assange in London and finds no reason to lift the arrest warrant.
• Assange has been ensconced in Ecuador`s embassy in London since 2012 to avoid extradition to the Scandinavian country. Assange, who faces arrest if he tries to leave the Ecuadorian embassy, has always vehemently denied the allegations and insisted the sexual encounters were consensual. Meanwhile Assange`s lawyer said that he has agreed to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in London.

• A new powerful earthquake and several strong after shocks shook Nepal on 12th May killing at least 42 people and triggering panic in the Himalayan nation already devastated by a massive temblor less than three weeks back that had claimed over 8,000 lives. The earthquake sent strong tremors through several eastern and northern parts of India leaving 19 dead while 39 others injured.
• The earthquake struck at 12:35 PM, some 83 km east of Kathmandu near Mount Everest at a shallow depth of 15 km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts - the worst-affected areas in the last month`s temblor. There were five more aftershocks measuring over 5 on the Richter Scale after the second tremor. The tremors were also felt in China, where one woman was killed in Tibet.

1. Current Affirs French President Francois Hollande has met Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on a historic trip to Havana. Hollande is the first French president to visit Cuba since 1898, and the first Western head of state on the island since its thaw with Washington. He visited Cuba for the improvement of bilateral relations.

• Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza`s attempt to return home to tackle a coup has failed and he has returned to Tanzania where he was attending a summit. The plane turned back after 10 minutes as it would have been unable to land safely in Burundi. Earlier, Gen. Niyombare had ordered the closure of the airport to prevent Mr. Nkurunziza`s plane from landing.

• According to a few reports in Burundi, the factions of the military still loyal to the President were in negotiations with those backing the coup to determine the next step. The loyalists still reportedly hold the presidential palace and main radio offices. The capital, Bujumbura, was said to be quiet last night. The UN and US have urged all sides to show restraint.
• Coup leader arrested: Three leaders of a failed coup against Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza have been arrested. However, coup leader General Godefroid Niyombare is "still on the run". The president has returned to the capital after being stuck in Tanzania. More than 105,000 people have fled the country since the unrest began last month, the UN says.
• The President of Burundi declared on 15th May that peace had returned, two days after a failed military coup left the African nation in a state of chaotic violence.
• The attempted coup -- announced on 13th May over the radio by an army general while the President was out of the country -- was launched in the wake of deadly protests over Nkurunziza`s controversial intention to extend his rule beyond term limits. The unrest sparked fears that Burundi could plunge into ethnic violence, with the country`s history of civil war making it vulnerable to deep divisions.
• Shortly after the President returned from his Tanzania summit on 15th May, authorities said that they had arrested Army Gen. Godefroid Niyombare, as well as the others involved in the failed plot. They will be charged with mutiny in a military court, said Willy Nyamitwe.

• The Vatican announced on 13th May that it had brokered a treaty with the "state of Palestine. The treaty is expected to be signed "in the near future
• The treaty is thought to mark the first time the Holy See has formally recognized Palestinian statehood in a legal document.
• Vatican policy, however, has long held that a two-state solution is the best road to peace in the Holy Land. The Vatican has referred to Palestine as a state since November 2012, when the United Nations voted to recognize it as a nonmember observer state.

12) Terror attack in Karachi; Pak Taliban claims responsibility

• At least 47 people have been killed and several others injured after eight gunmen entered a bus and opened indiscriminate fire on passengers in Pakistan`s southern port city Karachi. According to police, more than 60 people were onboard the bus.The injured have been shifted to various hospitals by rescue workers. The heavily-armed militants donning police uniforms left behind a pamphlet of ISIS claiming responsibility for the attack.

1. In USA, the House voted to pass the USA Freedom Act, which would effectively shut down portions of the NSA’s controversial domestic spying program in their current form.
2. The bill, passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 338 to 88, would put an end to the government’s bulk collection of phone records from U.S. telecoms—a program first uncovered by USA in 2006 and re-exposed in 2013 by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
3. The bill instead calls for records to be retained by telecoms and forces the NSA to obtain court orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to gain access to them. It also requires the agency to use specific search terms to narrow its access to only relevant records.

• In Afghanistan, 11 people including 4 Indians and an American were among those killed when Taliban gunmen stormed a guesthouse in Kabul. The attack was targeted at the Indian Ambassador. 
• Soon after the gunmen stormed the guest house, Afghan National Security Forces including Special Forces arrived and began striking back the attackers and also rescuing those under siege inside the guest house. All three attackers were killed in the siege that lasted for about seven hours. The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a popular guesthouse in Kabul that officials said killed at least 11 people, including foreigners attending a dinner and arriving for a concert.

• Current Affirs A UNSC committee has assured India that it will take up the issue of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi. The assurance came after India expressed concern that the LeT commander`s release from a Pakistani jail violates the provisions of the global body.
• India`s Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji had written a letter to the Chair of the UNSC Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee Ambassador Jim McLay expressing concern over Lakhvi`s release and saying that it violates the provisions of the committee concerning al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities.
• India also pointed out that as a listed terrorist, Lakhvi can neither receive or give money since all his assets and financial resources have to be frozen. Any bail money posted for Lakhvi is also a violation of the provisions of the sanctions committee since he is listed terrorist. A Pakistani court had on the 9th of April set Lakhvi free.

1. The U.N.’s peace envoy for Syria on 5th May launched wide-ranging consultations in Geneva with regional and domestic players, including Iran, in a bid to revive stalled talks to end the conflict.
2. Staffan de Mistura said talks with the Syrian government and some 40 groups, including “political, military actors, women, civil society, victims, the diaspora,” would also rope in some 20 regional and international players.
3. Iran, a key player in the conflict, was excluded from the stalled Geneva I and Geneva II peace deals. The current dialogue will also include the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. The consultations will be held on a one-to-one basis between the U.N. and the separate players. Terror groups such as the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra have not been invited but groups in contact with them are on the cards.

• Iran and world powers are struggling to overcome deep divisions on two core sticking points in talks on a possible nuclear deal, reimposing UN sanctions if the Iranians violate the agreement and how Tehran can buy atomic technology, according to envoy 
• Negotiators are wrapping up nearly a week of talks in New York on 5th May, the latest round in 18 months of discussions aimed at clinching a long -term deal by Jun 30 to curb Iran`s nuclear programme in exchange for an end to sanctions.
• The current talks have been taking place on the sidelines of a conference on the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The negotiations between Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union will resume in Vienna next week. The Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iranian state television that atmosphere of the talks was good and it is possible to reach the final deal by Jun 30.

• The United States has authorized commercial ferry services to Cuba for the first time in over a half-century on 5th May, another major step in improving relations between the two countries
• The US Treasury`s Office of Foreign Assets Control lifted the ban and at least one Florida company confirmed it had been licensed to launch boat services to Cuba. Ferry services between Cuba and the United States was cut off in the early 1960s, following the Cuban revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.

• A report released by the World Economic Forum shows that Spain topped this year`s world rankings and Japan was listed as the most competitive tourism destination in Asia. Other popular traveling destinations including France, Germany, Britain and Switzerland have all managed to hold onto their top positions in the global rankings. East Asia has become the most dynamic travel region in the world in recent years due to the rapid growth in the number of both international and local tourists.

• Saudi Arabia on 7th May proposed a five-day humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen to allow aid deliveries, and the United States called on Iran-backed Huthi rebels to accept the offer. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, whose country is leading a coalition conducting air strikes on the Yemen rebels, announced the proposal after talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

• UK Prime Minister David Cameron and his Conservatives won a resounding victory in the British general election, with complete results on 8th May showing that the party had secured an overall majority in Parliament. The vote was a stunning disappointment for the opposition Labour Party and its leader, Ed Miliband, who had shifted the party away from the more centrist strategy it pursued in the late 1990s and early 2000s under Tony Blair. 
• The Conservatives won 331 of 650 seats in the House of Commons, a gain of 24 seats from the last election, in 2010. Their chief rival, Labour, was nearly wiped out in Scotland by the surging Scottish National Party and did more poorly than pre-election opinion polls had suggested it would in the rest of Britain. The results were also a disaster for Nick Clegg and his centrist Liberal Democrats, who have been the junior partner in a coalition with the Conservatives. Labour Party could win merely 232 seats.

• Seven persons including the ambassadors of the Philippines and Norway were killed in a Pakistani military helicopter crash on 8th May. Four foreigners, including ambassadors of Philippine and Norway and wives of Malaysian and Indonesian ambassador and three Pakistani nationals counting two pilots and one crew member were killed in the crash.
• In Mi-17 helicopter, the six Pakistanis and 11 foreigners were on board caught fire following a crash during an emergency landing, into a school in Gilgit-Baltistan of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

• Two fresh tremors were felt in Nepal on 8th May, triggering panic among the people still reeling from the impact of the devastating earthquake that has claimed nearly 8,000 lives. The epicenter of the tremors being Sindhupal chowk and Dolakha districts, east of Kathmandu.
• About 150 aftershocks measuring 4 or more on the Richter scale have been reported after the April 25 quake. Toll due to the earthquake has reached 7,885 so far, while the number of injured has shot up to 17,803.
• According to UNICEF, nearly a million children will not be able to return to school in the wake of earthquake in Nepal unless urgent action is taken. The international charity says nine out of 10 schools have been destroyed in the worst-affected districts. Almost 24,000 classrooms were damaged or destroyed in the disaster that hit the country 12 days ago. Unicef is attempting to set up temporary learning spaces for children. Currently, all schools are closed in Nepal, although many of those still standing are being used as emergency shelters.

• United States and Saudi officials have agreed to pursue a humanitarian pause in Yemen, where fighting by Shi`ite Houthi rebels has forced thousands of people to flee the country. US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Saudi counterpart, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, said efforts were underway to forge a five day ceasefire in Yemen to send in humanitarian aid. 
• They said the ceasefire would be renewable, depending on the conditions on the ground. The Saudi Foreign Minister also said more details would be announced within the coming days about the proposed pause, which would affect all of Yemen.

• Egypt’s Supreme Antiquities Council has approved the rebuilding of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Lighthouse, which was built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom in 280 BC, once stood at approximately 450 feet tall.
• Now, centuries after it was badly damaged by a number of earthquakes, Egypt is seeking to rebuild the lighthouse near its original location. The Lighthouse, also known as the Pharos Lighthouse, was commissioned shortly after Alexander the Great died in the 3rd Century. 

1) Mumbai Indians won IPL 2015 title by defeating Chennai Super kings.

• Mumbai Indians won the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• In the final clash played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 41-runs.
• This was the second title triumph for Mumbai Indians after their maiden win back in 2013.
• With this defeat, Chennai has lost four finals of 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015 in six appearances.
• Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma for his match winning score of 50 in 26 balls.

1. Player of the Tournament: Andre Russell.
2. Orange Cap awarded to: David Warner.
3. Purple Cap awarded to: Dwayne Bravo.
4. Emerging Player of the Season: Shreyas Iyer.
5. Most Valuable Player: Andre Russell.

• Mercedes racing driver Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 title by winning the final race held in Monaco.
• While Sebastian Vettel of Germany representing the Ferrari team stood at the second position, Rosberg’s team mate Lewis Hamiltion of UK was at the third positon.
• It is the tenth overall championship title for Rosberg and the second title in the 2015 season having won the Spanish Formula 1 World Championship.
• With the present victory, he has become the fourth driver to win three Monaco Grand Prix titles in a row. The others were Graham Hill, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

• Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was named as the International Cricketer of the Year 2015, while the Indian middle order batsman Ajinkya Rahane was named as the CEAT Indian Cricketer of the Year 2015.
• Former Indian captain Kapil Dev was conferred with the International Lifetime Achievement Award at the 19th edition of the awards.
• Rohit Sharma was given a special award for his record-breaking 264 made against Sri Lanka in an ODI at Kolkata.

1. International Lifetime Achievement Award - Kapil Dev.
2. International Cricketer of the Year – Kumar Sangakkara.
3. Indian Cricketer of the Year –Ajinkya Rahane.
4. International Batsman of the Year – Hashim Amla.
5. International Bowler of the Year – Rangana Herath.
6. T20 Player of the Year – Dwayne Bravo.
7. Popular Choice Award – Kieron Pollard.
8. Special Performance of the Year Award – Rohit Sharma.
9. Domestic Cricketer of the Year – R. Vinay Kumar.
10. Young Player of the Year – Deepak Hooda.
11. The CEAT awards honour the best of the cricketers based on their performances in international cricketing in all formats - Test, ODI and T20 - as rated by the CEAT Cricket ratings (CCR) for the year 2014 – 2015.

• The BCCI officially announced that India`s international women`s cricketers will be brought under the ambit of gradation payment like their male counterparts as it was discussed at the recently held finance committee meeting in Delhi.
• The Women’s Cricket Committee of the BCCI made the following recommendations to the Working Committee
• On the lines of Men’s cricket, a Contract system for international Women cricketers was proposed. It was also proposed to have more international fixtures for the Indian women’s cricket team. 
• The Committee recommended adding two more tournaments to give more exposure and opportunities to women cricketers at the domestic level. The Committee proposed to start an under-16 state level tournament within the zones. It also proposed to start an under-23 tournament.
• o The present formats of the women’s under-19 tournament and the senior women’s tournament will remain unchanged.

• Indian boxers won three Gold medals and two silver medals at World Junior Women`s boxing Championship. The event was held at Taipei in Taiwan.
• Savita (50 kg), Mandeep (52 kg) and Sakshi (54 kg) clinched gold, while Soniya (48 kg) and Niharika Gonella (70 kg) had to settle for silver.
• Soniya won India its first medal, however she lost to American Heaven Garcia (1-2). Next Savita defeated Ukrainian Kateryna Rohova (2-1) to bag the 1st gold for India. This was followed by Mandeep’s 3-0 victory against Ireland’s Niamh Earley.
• Sakshi defeated American Yarisel Ramirez (3-0), while Niharika lost to Russian Anastassiia Sigaeva.
• Jamuna Boro (57 kg) bagged bronze in youth competition.

• Indian boxers rounded off a brilliant run at the Doha International Tournament, winning four gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the event .
• Commonwealth Games silver medallist L. Devendro Singh (49 kg), Shiva Thapa (56 kg), Manish Kaushik (60 kg), and Manoj Kumar (64 kg) won the gold medals.
• The silver medal went to Gaurav Bidhuri (52 kg), while Mandeep Jangra (69 kg) and Vikas Krishan (75 kg) bagged bronze medals.

7) 2014 FMSCI Motorsport Man of the Year Award presented to- CS Santosh.

• India’s off-road racer CS Santosh was presented with the Motorsport Man of the Year Award at the 2014 Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Price Distribution Ceremony held in Bangaluru, Karnataka.
• The Chairman and Managing Director of the Raymond Group, Gautam Singhania presented the Raymond Gautama Singhania Rolling Trophy along with 2 lakh rupees as cash prize to CS Santosh.

1. In January 2015, he stood at the 36th position and became the first Indian to compete in Dakar Rally by participating in cross-country rally of 9000 km long held in South America.
2. 2300 km Desert Storm 2014 Championship long held in India was won by him representing the Team Suzuki.
3. He is recognized as the first Indian to participate in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2013.

• Australian Trevor Bayliss has been appointed as the new head coach of England, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced.
• Bayliss, 52, a former Sri Lanka coach who led them to the World Cup final in 2011, has also been a successful coach with New South Wales, Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash and Kolkata Knight Riders.

1. 2004-2007: New Zealand.
2. 2007-2011: Sri lanka.
3. 2011-2015: Sydney Sixers, Kolkata knight Riders.

• Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt overcame rain-soaked, chilly conditions to streak to his new season best in winning his favoured 200 metres.
• In the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, the 28-year-old world and Olympic champion - who also holds the world 100 and 200m records, clocked 20.13 seconds, almost a second behind his world record of 19.19sec set back in 2009.
• In his only previous appearance over 200m this season, Bolt timed 20.20sec on home soil in Kingston, Jamaica, in April.

1. Usain St. Leo Bolt, is a Jamaican sprinter. Widely regarded as the fastest person ever, he is the first man to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records since fully automatic time measurements became mandatory in 1977. Along with his teammates, he also set the world record in the 4×100 metres relay.
2. He is the reigning Olympic champion in these three events, the first man to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting, and an eight-time World champion. He was the first to achieve a "double double" by winning 100 m and 200 m titles at consecutive Olympics (2008 and 2012), and topped this through the first "double triple" (including 4×100 m relays).

• Abhinav Bindra has become the fourth Indian shooter to win a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics, after he finished sixth in the Men`s 10m Air Rifle final at the ISSF Shooting World Cup in Munich.
• Gagan Narang, Jitu Rai and Apurvi Chandela are the other Indians to have secured an Olympic quota earlier.
• Each country can win a maximum of 30 quota places from a total of 15 shooting disciplines (including shotgun events), two each from each discipline.

11) Five women suspended for anti-doping rule violations named for TOP Scheme.

• Five of the six women quartermilers who were suspended for anti-doping rule violations between mid-2011 and mid-2013 have been named among the 39 athletes added by the Union Sports Ministry to its much-hyped Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme.
• Besides, the way several other athletes have been accommodated and omitted has put a big question mark over the intention and competence of the selection panel that picks sportspersons for the scheme.
• Six women 400m runners, Priyanka Panwar, Ashwini Akkunji, Jauna Murmu, Sini Jose, Mandeep Kaur and Tiana Mary Thomas, were caught for doping in 2011 and subsequently suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for two years.

• Sevilla Football Club (FC) won Europa League title.
• In the final clash at National Stadium Warsaw, Poland, Sevilla defeated Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk football club, 3-2. 
• It was second consecutive Europa Cup win for Sevilla.
• Sevilla, the Spain’s oldest club solely devoted to football practice, became the first side to win the Europa League four times. Last time, it captured the trophy in 2006, 2007 and 2014.

• The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports gave its nod for recognising certain sports federations representing indigenous sports disciplines as Regional Sports Federations (RSFs).

1. The sports disciplines must be popular in a region or a state and played in one or more states.
2. The sports should have been played in the region for at least last 10 years.
3. The sports federations seeking RSF status should have conducted championships in all the categories namely Senior, Junior and Sub-Junior.

• Incumbent FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter was re-elected as President for the fifth term. He was chosen for the post by the 65th FIFA Congress held in Zurich. 
• Blatter won another four-year term as FIFA President after he was able to secure 133 votes out of 206 valid votes in the 209-member FIFA.
• Blatter defeated 39-year-old Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan who was able to secure 73 votes. Ali was a FIFA Vice President for the past four years.
• The 66th and 67th editions of the FIFA Congress will take place in Mexico City in 2016 and Kuala Lumpur in 2017.

• Barcelona won Copa del Rey also known as Spanish King’s Cup by defeating Athletic Bilbao, 3-1 at the Nou Camp. This was the 27th Copa del Rey title for Barcelona.
• This was the second title of the season for Barcelona, earlier; it had won La Liga.

• Ace Indian shooter Gurpreet Singh has secured India a fifth quota place in shooting for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• He achieved this feat by finishing fourth in the Men’s 10 metre Air Pistol final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shooting World Cup held in Munich, Germany.
• With this, he became the fifth Indian shooter to win a quota place for the Rio Olympics after Gagan Narang, Jitu Rai, Apurvi Chandela and Abhinav Bindra. 
• He is also the second Indian to secure an Olympic berth at the ongoing World Cup after Bindra.

• Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan won their maiden I-League title in 13 years. 
• In the final clash at Kanteerva Stadium in Bengaluru, Mohun Bagan managed a 1-1 draw against the defending champions Bengaluru FC.
• This win is the fourth I-league title for Mohun Bagan. It won the first I-league title in 2002 when the tournament was called as the National Football League (NFL). Later in 2007, NFL was renamed as I-League.
• The title also ended Bagan’s five-year trophy drought. 

1) Honorary doctorate to President Pranab 

President Pranab Mukherjee was conferred honorary degree by the Russian Diplomatic Academy in Moscow. The President is on four days tour of Russia to witness the Victory Day parade in Moscow to mark the 70th anniversary of allied forces victory during the Second World War.

2) India, Japan to set up Logistics Data Bank to expedite bilateral trade

• The LDB will be operated by a special purpose vehicle (SPV), which will be jointly run by DMIC Trust from Indian side and Japan`s NEC. Once in operation, the LDB is expected to save $3.2 billion annually by 2017 on the basis of real time tracking of container movement. The Shareholders Agreement (SHA) for the project is under discussion presently. The concept was basically developed to address the issue of tracking and viewing container movement across all ports to the ICDs and end-users. 
• In terms of revenue earning for the government, the data will be collected from all stakeholders for a fee with user charges collected from shippers based on mandatory user charge, which will be 0.2 per cent of the total transportation cost, Kumar said. Presently, almost 60 per cent of the container traffic is concentrated in the western corridor. Besides, several stakeholders such as the railways, ports, customs and transporters operate their own IT-enabled systems without sharing the data with each other.

3) DTAA with South Korea

• Its primary purpose is to provide for tax stability to the residents of India and South Korea and facilitate mutual economic cooperation as well as stimulate the flow of investment, technology and services between the two countries. It provides for source based taxation of capital gains, making adjustments to profits of associated enterprises on the basis of arm`s length principle and residence based taxation of shipping income. 
• It rationalizes tax rates in the Articles on Dividends, Interest and Royalties and Fees for Technical Services. It enables effective exchange of information and assistance in collection of taxes between tax authorities It incorporates limitation of benefits provisions under the agreement to ensure that the benefits are availed of only by genuine residents of both countries.
• www.sakshieducation.com Published on 5/12/2015 5:07:00 PM

1) 6 Indian-Americans receive 2015 Ellis Island Medals of Honor in US.

• Six Indian-Americans and a British-Indian were presented prestigious 2015 Ellis Island Medals of Honor in United States for their contributions to America.
  
• They were among nearly 100 individuals who were presented this prestigious award recently in New York.
  
• Indian-American winners include
  
• Meera Gandhi: Founder of the Giving Back Foundation. It had played important role alleviating poverty illness, and suffering and also had addressed education issues which affect women and children around the world.
  
• Chad P. Gehani: Former president of the New York State Dental Association. In 2006, was honored with Foundation of Excellence in Community Service Award by the New York State Dental Foundation.
  
• S. Mona Sinha: Chairperson of the Asian Women’s Leadership University (AWLU) Project, and is founding member of AWLU that focuses on empowering women as future leaders of Asia.
  
•  K.V. Kumar: He is managing partner of Kumar & Talvadkar Associates, a Management Consulting Company. He was instrumental in successfully implementing various projects in different fields.
  
• Baroness Sandip Verma: Member of the House of Lords of United Kingdom. He is a former junior minister at the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the UK.
  
• Rajdeep K. Dhami.
  
• About Ellis Island Medals of Honor
  
• It is an American award founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The award pays homage to the immigrant for their experience and contribution made to America. It is awarded to native-born and naturalized US citizens.

2) Shivani Agarwal and Maharaja Pandit selected for prestigious Radcliffe Fellowship by Harvard University.

• Shivani Agarwal and Maharaja Pandit are two Indians who have been selected for the prestigious Radcliffe Fellowship by Harvard University.
  
• Shivani Agarwal is from Indian Institute of Science has been selected as William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fellow for learning to make choices in the era of big data.
  
• About Radcliffe Fellowship:
  
• Radcliffe Fellowship by Harvard University is considered as one of the most prestigious honors for faculty for Advanced Study.
  
• The fellowship is dedicated to creating and sharing transformative ideas across the arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities.
  
• Annually the fellowship Program supports the work of 50 leading artists and scholars across the world.

3) Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai won the 2015 Man Booker International Prize.

• Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai won the prestigious Man Booker International Prize for 2015 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
• He was announced as sixth winner of the award at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
• He received a cash prize of 60000 pound.
• About Man Booker International Prize:
• Man Booker International Prize is an international literary award given every two years to a living author of any nationality for a body of work published in English or generally available in English translation.

4) Indian Film Masaan won FIPRESCI Award at 68th Cannes film festival.

• Indian Movie Masaan won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival.
•  The film is directorial debut of Neeraj Ghaywan.
•  It stars Vicky Kaushal, Shweta Tripathi along with Richa Chadda.
•  The movie was showcased in the Uncertain Regard section at the movie gala, following which it received a five-minute standing ovation.
•  The film is based in Varanasi and its characters are connected with the River Ganges.
•  Apart from Masaan, Hungarian film Son of Saul by Laszlo Nemes won the critics prize in official competition and the other movie `Paulina` won the prize in parallel sections.
•  

5) Two Indians posthumously chosen for UN’s prestigious Dag Hammarskjold Medal.

•  Two Indian peacekeepers have been chosen posthumously for United Nation’s Dag Hammarskjold Medal.
  
•  They are Lance Naik Nand Ram and Raju Joseph.
  
•  Both of them are among the 126 police, military and civilian personnel who have been posthumously awarded a prestigious UN medal.
  
•  They have been chosen for this award for their courage and sacrifice while serving in UN peacekeeping operations in 2014 and lost their lives as a result of hostile acts, accidents and disease.
  
•  They will be presented with this medal on May 29, 2015 i.e. on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
  
•  Lance Naik Nand Ram had served with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
  
•  While, Raju Joseph had served in a civilian capacity with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
  
• About Dag Hammarskjold Medal
  
•  Established in December 2000.
  
•  Awarded posthumously to members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives during service with a peacekeeping operation under the operational control and authority of the United Nations.
  
•  Named after second UN Secretary General and Swedish diplomat Dag Hammarskjold (In office: from 1953 to 1961). Hammarskjold had died in a mysterious plane crash in 1961.
  
•  He was posthumously awarded Nobel Peace Prize the year he died (exceptional case).
  
•  In 2014, eight Indian soldiers had posthumously received the medal.

6) TNPL Bags Dun and Bradstreet Corporate award.

•  The Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) has bagged the Dun and Bradstreet Corporate award under the paper and paper products category.
•  Dun and Bradstreet India has selected TNPL as top Indian company under the paper and paper products category and the award was received by A. Velliangiri, Deputy Managing Director, TNLI, from Bibek Debroy, permanent member, NITI Aayog, in Mumbai recently, according to a TNPL release.
•  This is the fourth consecutive year that the TNPL had bagged the award, the release added.

In 68th Cannes Film Festival 2015 French director Jacques Audiard won The `Palme d’Or` Prize.

• French thriller movie Dheepan was honoured with the Palme d`Or top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The film brings a spotlight on the plight of traumatised refugees building new lives.
• Indian film `Masaan` directed by Neeraj Ghaywan won the Promizing Future `Prize Ex-aequo` at the festival.
• Awards at 68th Cannes Film Festival:
• The Grand Prix: Son of Saul, directed by László Nemes.
• Best director: Hou Hsiao-Hsien for The Assassin.
•  Screenplay: Michel Franco for Chronic.
• Best actress: Emmanuelle Bercot in Mon Roi and Rooney Mara in Carol.
• Best Actor: Vincent Lindon in The Measure of a Man.
• Camera d’Or: La Tierra Y La Sombra, directed by César Augusto Acevedo.
• Short Films Palme d Or: Waves ’98, directed by Ely Dagher.
• The Jury Prize: The Lobster, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

1) National conference on Nuclear energy

• The 6th National Conference on Nuclear Energy was organized by ASSOCHAM in New Delhi on 15th May. The theme of the conference was “Nuclear Energy: a ‘Clean’ Energy option”.
• The conference discussed the issue related to the status of Nuclear Energy in India. India is on course to double its nuclear power generation capacity to more than 10,000 mega watts (MW) over the next five years i.e. 2020.
• Nuclear power plants account for 3.5% of India’s current electricity generation, and its share in India’s future electricity generation will be less than 10% even if the installed capacity is tripled. However, along with other sources of energy such as hydropower and solar-power, it will play a role in reducing India’s reliance on coal for generating electricity.
• According to R.K. Sinha, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission the nuclear energy is the clean and green source of energy and it is a good option for energy if per capita consumption of power in India has to be increased.
• A Panel discussion on various issues such as contribution of nuclear energy to the decarbonisation of power sector, nuclear energy expansion & “Make in India” and Climate change & the future of nuclear energy was also held at the conference.

2) Opah, the world`s first warm-blooded fish species

• Fish found in waters off US, Australia and several other countries has developed an internal ‘heat exchange’ system
  
• The Opah is the first fish species found to be fully warm-blooded, circulating heated blood throughout its body much like mammals and birds, research has revealed.
  
• The fish, found in the waters off the US, Australia and several other countries, generates heat by constantly flapping its fins and has developed an internal “heat exchange” system within its gills to conserve the warmth.
  
• This adaptation means warm blood that leaves the opah’s body core helps heat cold blood returning from the surface of the gills where it absorbs oxygen, maintaining an average body temperature of about 4C to 5C.
  
• This system, likened by scientists to a car radiator, is similar to that used by mammals and birds, which are known as endotherms for their ability to maintain body temperature independent of the environment
  
• While tuna and some sharks can warm certain parts of their bodies, such as their brains and eyes, fish are generally classed among cold-blooded animals, known as ectotherms.
  
• Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration discovered the opah’s unusual internal system after analysing samples of gill tissue from fish captured off the west coast of the US. Because it can warm its body, it turns out to be a very active predator
  
• Opahs, which are an oval-shaped fish roughly the size of a car tyre, use this adaptation to become more effective predators. It swims faster, reacts more quickly and sees more sharply than the other marine life that, like the opah, dwell 50m to 400m underwater, NOAA said.
  

3) North Korea test-fired Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile

• North Korea on 8 May 2015 successfully test-fired a newly developed Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM). The nation described the missile as a world level strategic weapon. The underwater ballistic missile that will meet the latest military science and technology requirements of the country was test-fired after Leader Kim Jong-Un gave the order to test-fire the missile. He also watched its launch from attack submarine.

1) To set up IIT in Nagpur, a nod have been given by MHRD.

• Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) gave an approval for setting up an IIIT (Indian Institute of Information Technology) in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• With this it will be the first IIT in the state.
• And also two another institutes are set to come up, namely the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian Institute of Management.
• The main intension to set up of these higher educational institutions in Nagpur to improve educational infrastructure in the Vidharba region.

• Kayakalp an initiative for awards to public health facilities was launched by the Union minister for health and family welfare J.P. Nadda.
• And he also released the Swachchta Guidelines for Public Health Facilities.
• This initiative will encourage every public health facility in the country to work towards standards of excellence to help the facilities stay clean and hygienic.

1. To promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health care facilities.
2. To incentivize and recognize such public healthcare facilities.
3. To inculcate a culture of ongoing assessment and peer review of performance related to hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation.
4. To create and share sustainable practices related to improved cleanliness in public health facilities linked to positive health outcomes.

• National nuclear energy conference held in New Delhi. It is the sixth nuclear energy conference.
• The theme of the sixth edition of the nuclear energy is Nuclear energy: a clean energy option.
• It was organized by ASSOCHAM (Associated chambers of commerce and Industry of India).
• India wants to double its nuclear power generation by 2020.
• At present India’s Nuclear power plants generating 3.5% electricity.

• A new programme Road Measurement and Data Acquisition System to take stock of the condition of the national highways was launched by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
• According to this a vehicle equipped with modern gadgets including GPS, cameras will cover every aspect of the road including road condition, wayside amenities, accident-prone zones, road strength, condition of bridges and culverts besides encroachment etc,.
• The fund for this project has been provided by World Bank and National Highway authority of India.

• Historical town of Badami in Bagalkot district of Karnataka will be developed into a tourist town under the Union government’s flagship programme HRIDAY (Heritage City Development Scheme).
• The Union government has selected 12 heritage cities in the country to develop them by providing better amenities and preserving the heritage structures. Badami, once ruled by the Chalukyan dynasty, is one of the cities selected for the project.
• The city would be developed and facilities would be created with the help of INTACH (Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage) which would share its expertise in executing the project.

6) Delhi CM Kejriwal announces various initiatives for auto drivers.

• Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a slew of sops like annual fare revision, over 400 new halt-and-go stands and relaxation in rules, including permission to refuse customers while returning home.
• Kejriwal addressing a gathering of auto drivers at Burari in Outer Delhi announced that government will revise auto fares every year from 1st of April.
• Kejriwal asked the auto drivers to improve their service and raised the issues of auto drivers turning away passengers and misbehaving, two of the most frequent complaints.
• Auto-complaint helpline number 011-42400400 will be revived to address the issue of overcharging and refusal. Strict action will be taken in case of violations.
• The JICA will charge 0.8 percent per annum interest rate and the loan repayment period is 20 years in addition a 6 years grace period. The project will be completed by January 2020.

• Indian mangoes, including the famed Alphonso have made a comeback to Britain after an eight month ban kept them out of the European Union for much of last season.
• But there is a new problem the majority of the stock being sold has turned out to be rotten. According to the owner of one of London’s best known Indian shops, bad quality fruits have ruined his business.

1. Capital: London.
2. Queen: Elizabeth II.
3. Prime Minister: David Cameron.
4. Chancellor: Chris Leslie.
5. Currency: Pound Sterling. 

• Government sanctioned proposals for setting up 30 new cold chains in the country with a total investment of Rs. 724.9 crore.
• It was announced by Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal in New Delhi.
• These projects will play important role in reducing the wastage of food in the country.
• The total capacity of these projects will be around 1.12 lakh tonnes of cold storage and 11.10 lakh litres of milk storage per day.

• Three new type-2 diabetes medicines, two of which were recently launched in India, have come under the scanner of the US drug regulator for potential risk of causing acidosis that could require hospitalization.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned medical professionals and patients that type-2 diabetes medicines - canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin - may cause high levels of blood acids which can lead to serious adverse effects. Dapagliflozin and Canagliflozin were recently Launched in india.
• The three drugs, all belonging to a new class known as SGLT2 inhibitors, work by lowering blood sugar by making the kidneys remove sugar from the body through the urine.

10) Centre to launch agri-training programme in 593 Sansad Adarsh Grams.

• Centre is planning to launch an agri-training programme in 593 villages under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).
• The nodal Agriculture Ministry is working out the training programme guidelines for implementation in each village adopted by Members of Parliament under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).
• The agri-training programme, to be conducted for two days in each village, will be implemented by the National Centre of Organic Farming and Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute along with the support of the state governments.

1. It is a rural development programme that primarily focuses upon the development in villages.
2. The programme was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan, on 11 October 2014.

• President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of India`s first historic climb of Mt. Everest in 1965 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• The function was organized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) to celebrate the historic climb of Mt. Everest in 1965 by an Indian team led by Captain Mohan Singh Kohli.
• On this day in 1965, Indian team of 21 mountaineers led by Captain M.S. Kohli of Indian Navy had successfully climbed world’s highest peak Mt. Everest (8848 m) after a series of three unsuccessful attempts in five years.

• Meghalaya has achieved 100 percent success in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna.
• In the state, all eleven districts have been able to open at least one bank account of every household under the ambitious scheme. More than 5.53 lakh households have been covered with 1.55 lakh new bank accounts.
• 1.8 lakh accounts have been opened in rural areas, while in urban area the figure is over 47,000.
• All banks both from private and public sectors have contributed in successfully implementing the scheme. So far, under the PMJDY, banks have issued more than 1.31 lakh Rupay cards.

• Maharashtra Government has decided to make amendments to Factories Act 1948, thus making the way for women employees to work in night shifts.
• The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
• Earlier, section 66 (1) (c) of the Factories Act, 1948 restricted women from working at a factory between 7 PM and 6 AM. Now that has been done away with.
• The managements will have to ensure security of women working in night shift.
• The proposed amendment will also enable workers to be eligible for paid leave after working for 90 days in a year instead of the current 240 days or more.

• Authorities of the Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand opened the Nelong Valley for tourists for the first time since its closure in 1962.
• Nelong Valley: A picturesque valley located 45 km away from the Indo-China border 
• Nelong valley, situated 45 km away from the Indo-China border in the Uttarkashi district, was closed for civilians after the 1962 war between both the countries.
• Located at a height of 11600 feet, it is a cold desert offering a view of the Tibetan Plateau in China and home to snow leopard and the Himalayan blue sheep.

• The Union Cabinet gave its approval for setting up of a new Ammonia-Urea Complex at Namrup in Assam. The complex will be set up on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode by a joint venture (JV).
• In the proposed JV, PSU Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Government of Assam and Oil India Limited (OIL) shall have 11 percent, 11 percent and 26 percent equity holding respectively and balance 52 percent by private/public sector entity (entities) which would be inducted through a competitive bidding process.
• The annual consumption of urea in the country is estimated at 31 million tonne. While 23 million tonne is produced domestically, the rest of the demand is met through imports.

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, gave its approval for the revival of closed urea unit of Fertilizer Corporation India Limited (FCIL) at Sindri (Jharkhand) with an investment of Rs. 6000 crore. 
• This unit was lying defunct and was not in operation since 2002.
• The setting up of a new unit at Sindri will meet the growing demand of urea in the States of Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
• It will also ease the pressure on railway and road infrastructure due to long distance transportation of urea from Western and Central Regions and thereby saving in govt. subsidy on freight.

• The Union Cabinet approved a relaxation of policy on investment proposals from Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), treating them at par with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
• In order to comply with this decision government will amend FDI policy on investments by NRIs, PIOs & OCIs which will give them parity in economy and education.
• Investments by NRIs under Schedule 4 of FEMA regulations will be deemed to be domestic investment at par with the investment made by residents.
• The amendments will lead to greater foreign exchange remittances and investment in the country.

1) 100 US cities to host Yogathon on First International Yoga Day

• More than 100 US cities will organize a Yogathon on the first International Yoga Day to be celebrated on June 21. All major spiritual and Yoga organizations like Art of Living have joined the campaign, OVBI,Overseas Volunteer for a Better India - the lead organizers said that more than 50 organizations have joined the countrywide campaign to spread the awareness about Yoga. The United Nations, in less than three months, declared June 21 as World Yoga Day on December 11 last year, following a proposal by Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi. 
• During his visit to the United Nations in September last year, MrModi had urged the world community to celebrate Indian Yoga at the international level and that June 21 be declared as the World Yoga Day.

• The U.N. on 29th May called for a comprehensive response to the large scale humanitarian crisis of migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, of which nearly 2,000 are still believed to be stranded in the perilous sea across the Bay of Bengal.
• On 29th May, 17 countries, including India, the U.S., Australia, Japan and the regional countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Bangladesh met in Bangkok to thrash out a solution to the crisis even as 2,000 people are still believed to be stranded on the sea. Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to address the root causes of a migrant exodus from their shores, but critics pilloried a deal that failed to mention the Rohingya minority at the heart of the crisis.
• UNSC adopted resolution on protection of journalists in conflict zones
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 27 May 2015 unanimously adopted a resolution 2222 (2015) on the protection of journalists in conflict zones. The resolution was adopted following number of deaths and kidnappings of media professionals which has continued to climb.
• The resolution was adopted during a meet that was heard by nearly 70 speakers under the agenda item Protection of civilians in armed conflict. The meet was chaired by Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.
• The Security Council resolution also condemned such attacks on journalists and warned parties to conflicts, including governments and armed groups, that they should take all reasonable steps to protect journalists. The resolution urged Member States to take active steps to ensure accountability.
• Besides, Christophe Deloire, Director-General of Reporters Without Borders called on to appoint a special representative on the protection of journalists to ensure that Member States abided by their commitments under the text and under previous resolution.

• Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on 17th May inaugurated the India Pavilion at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival. He stressed the importance of movies in government campaigns like `Make In India` and `Skill India
• The new government at the Centre is certainly more decisive and focused and is constantly working towards taking India to higher levels of growth, which is inclusive.
• The government is channelising that objective through campaigns like `Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’, and realises that the film industry is an important part of these campaigns given its tremendous potential towards job creation
• India has already signed co-production agreements with a slew of countries, and in the last one year five co-productions have been undertaken with France alone. We need to take these partnerships to the next level now
• The session also saw unveiling of the 46th IFFI, 2015 regulations and ‘India Film Guide’ by Rathore. The India Film Guide is a comprehensive booklet with information on policy initiatives by the government pertaining to film sector, the listing of Indian companies at Cannes Film Market, Indian films at Cannes and contacts of important people in the business of filmmaking.
• Mohan Kumar, ambassador of India to France, said the ambition should be to get Indian films in the most important category of films at Cannes. He added over the next two to three years, he will strive to work on that. The Cannes film gala began on May 13 and it will conclude on May 24.
• Gurvinder Singh`s Punjabi film “Chauthi Koot” and Neeraj Ghaywan`s debut feature "Masaan" are among the Indian films that have been chosen to be screened in the official UnCertain Regard section of the jamboree, the red carpet of which is being graced by Indian ambassadors of L`Oreal Paris -- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.

5) Global energy subsidies to hit USD 5.3 trillion this year: IMF

• Current Affirs The International Monetary Fund, IMF has voiced alarm about energy subsidies across the world, saying they were expected to reach 5.3 trillion dollars in 2015, more than government health spending. In a report on 18th May, the IMF said, these estimates are shocking. According to report………
•  The figures were among the largest negative factors for economic growth it had ever estimated, piling up adverse effects on efficiency, growth and inequality.
• This year`s energy subsidies represent 6.5 per cent of the global economy, likely exceeding government health spending across the world.
• Long an opponent of energy subsidies, the IMF defines them as the difference between the amount of money consumers pay for energy and its true costs, plus a country`s normal value-added or sales tax rate.
• In addition to what is required to produce and distribute energy, the true costs include environmental effects like carbon emissions that lead to global warming and the health effects of air pollution.
• China is by far the largest spender on energy subsidies, at 2.3 trillion dollars a year, followed by the United States at 699 billion dollars and Russia at 335 billion dollars.
• The overall energy subsidies had more than doubled since 2011.
• The IMF explained that more than half of the increase was due to more precise evidence of the damaging effects of energy consumption on air quality and health, such as premature deaths.
• The IMF has long argued that getting energy prices right can help national governments achieve their goals not only for the environment but also for inclusive growth and sound public finances.  

• Dubai is planning to construct, world’s first first underwater tennis centre where spectators can watch games from below or above the sea life through a massive glass dome. Krzysztof Kotala, a Polish architect who owns a studio in Warsaw, is currently seeking investment from local players to make the ambitious project a reality.
• The proposed location for the project (arguably one of the world`s lowest tennis courts) is just next door to the highest tennis court atop the Burjal Arab skyscraper in Dubai.
• The initial designs of the project have been completed, but there is a need to find the potential investors to launch the proposal.

• Retired tennis champion Bob Hewitt has been jailed for six years in South Africa for raping underage girls. The 75-year-old was sentenced to eight years in jail for two counts of rape, with two years suspended, and two years for sexual assault. Judge Bert Bam ordered the three terms to be served at the same time, meaning Hewitt should spend up to six years in prison
• The sportsman was also ordered to pay around £5,000 towards state-run campaigns against sexual violence. Three women had told the court Hewitt assaulted them while they were minors and he was their tennis coach in South Africa during the 1980s and 1990s. Hewitt, who was born in Australia and became a South African citizen after marrying his wife, denied all charges but was found guilty in March following a trial in Johannesburg.

• North Korea said on 20th May that it had perfected the technology to make nuclear warheads, not long after announcing it had launched a ballistic missile from a submarine, dramatically upping military brinkmanship with its U.S.-led foes. It also cancelled a visit by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon after he accused it of fuelling regional tensions, in a week that also saw U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemn the North’s “provocative, destabilising and repressive actions”

• An exhibition of 101 vintage miniature paintings that string together a grand narrative of the ancient Indian epic `Ramayana` opened at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA)
• Titled "The story of Rama: Indian Miniatures from the National Museum, New Delhi", the three-month show features paintings done between the 17th and 19th centuries. And it is the first major initiative under a recently-inked agreement on culture between India and Australia.
• According to NGA director Gerard Vaughan, the exhibition of vibrant and exquisite Indian miniature paintings is important for the gallery. It forms part of our commitment to share the art and rich cultural heritage of India with all Australians
• In November 2014 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of arts and culture between Australia and India was inked during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the continent-country.
• The agreement demonstrates India`s readiness to partner with countries and celebrate the arts. National Museum`s curator Vijay Kumar Mathur, who has selected the 101 paintings in a chronological progression capturing the story of the Ramayana, revealed that the collection had been pooled in from India`s northern, central and eastern territories.

• Islamic State fighters tightened their grip on the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on 21st May and overran Iraqi government defenses east of Ramadi, the provincial capital that they seized five days earlier. The twin successes not only pile pressure on Damascus and Baghdad but throw doubt on a U.S. strategy of relying almost exclusively on air strikes to support the fight against Islamic State.
• The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the al Qaeda offshoot now controlled more than half of all Syrian territory after more than four years of conflict that grew out of an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. 
• The monitoring group added that Islamic State had seized the last border crossing between Syria and Iraq controlled by the Damascus government. The crossing is in Syria`s Homs province, where Palmyra is located. Fighters loyal to the Sunni Muslim group have also consolidated their grip on the Libyan city of Sirte, home town of former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
• Islamic State said that it was in full charge of Palmyra, including its military bases, marking the first time it had taken a city directly from the Syrian military and allied forces. The U.N. human rights office in Geneva said a third of Palmyra`s 200,000 residents may have fled the fighting in the past few days.

• Thailand’s government agreed on 19th May to hold a public referendum on the newly drafted constitution, the prime minister and junta leader said, indicating that the decision could delay a general election. The move to amend the interim charter to allow the referendum comes after calls by several sides, including the charter’s drafters, for the public to be able to vote on whether they approve of the constitution.
• The military abolished an earlier constitution after it took over power from an elected government in a May 2014 coup, and the government operates under a temporary charter. The junta later picked the drafters and a 250-member National Reform Council to help write a new constitution.
• The Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order, the junta’s official name, agreed to hold the referendum
• According to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha the process would take about three months and would affect the political road map that was laid out by the junta after the coup. This means a referendum will likely delay a general election that the government has said could take place early next year.

• The US National Security Agency developed plans to hack into data links to app stores operated by Google and Samsung to plant spyware on smartphones, a media report said on 22nd May.
• The online news site The Intercept said US intelligence developed the plan with allies in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, a group known as the "Five Eyes" alliance. The report, based on a document leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, said the plan aimed to step up surveillance efforts on smartphones. 
• The plan appeared to have been discussed at meetings involving the intelligence services in 2011 and 2012, according to the classified document.
• The project called "Irritant Horn" would allow the agencies to hijack data connections to app stores and surreptitiously implant malicious software on smartphones that would allow for data to be harvested.
• The intelligence agencies could also use the spyware to send misinformation to targets to confuse potential adversaries, according to the report. 
• The Intercept said the plan was motivated in part by concerns about the possibility of "another Arab Spring," or the spread of popular movements.
• The agencies were particularly interested in the Africa region, especially Senegal, Sudan and the Congo but also targeted app store servers in France, Cuba, Morocco, Switzerland, Bahamas, the Netherlands and Russia.
• At the time, the Google app store was called Android Market. It is now known as Google Play. In developing the plan the agencies found weaknesses in UC Browser, an app owned by Alibaba Group which is popular in China and India to browse the Internet and is used by some 500 million people worldwide. 
• The document was also published in Canada by CBC News, which said the aim of the plan was to collect data on suspected terrorists and other intelligence targets, including their online search queries, SIM card numbers, device IDs and the location of the smartphone.
• In one case, according to the CBC, analysts found a foreign military using the UC Browser app to communicate covertly about its operations in Western countries.

13) IS takes full control of Syria`s Palmya city

• Islamic State says it has full control of Syria`s Palmyra city; United Nations deeply concerned about citizens` plight; World powers acknowledge the millitants` gains as a "setback
• Islamic State fighters tightened their grip on the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on 21st May and overran Iraqi government defences east of Ramadi, the provincial capital that they seized five days earlier.
• The twin successes not only pile pressure on Damascus and Baghdad but throw doubt on a U.S. strategy of relying almost exclusively on air strikes to support the fight against Islamic State.
• U.S. and coalition forces had conducted 18 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq since 20th May, the U.S. military said.
• The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the al Qaeda offshoot now controlled more than half of all Syrian territory after more than four years of conflict that grew out of an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
• The monitoring group added that Islamic State had seized the last border crossing between Syria and Iraq controlled by the Damascus government. The crossing is in Syria`s Homs province, where Palmyra is located.

• The European Union and Ukraine have signed a 2 billion dollars loan deal in an effort to help revive the cash-strapped country`s economy. EU and Ukrainian officials signed the agreement today in Riga at a summit of leaders of EU nations and six post-Soviet countries.
• The deal requires Ukraine to adopt a series of reforms including anti-corruption measures to remedy structural problems in its economy. At the Riga summit, the EU also promised grants of 223 million dollars to support small and medium-sized businesses in the former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

• The UN has adopted a resolution calling for stronger cooperation in stemming the illicit transfer and misuse of small arms and light weapons, underlining the suffering they have caused to civilians 
• The UN Security Council adopted the resolution on 22nd May by a vote of nine in favour to none against, with six abstentions. The text recognises the importance of preventing the illicit transfers and sales of weapons and ammunition, including small arms and light weapons, to armed groups and criminal networks that target civilians and civilian objects.
• In its resolution, the Security Council called on States to consider ratifying the Treaty or accede without delay. It identifies a wide range of areas in which international cooperation could be bolstered, recognising the importance of well-targeted and monitored sanctions regimes, appropriate UN peacekeeping mandates, effective reintegration and demobilisation programmes and security sector reform in that regard.
• In the resolution, the members of the Council advocate the establishment or strengthening, as appropriate, of subregional and regional mechanisms for cooperation, coordination and information sharing, particularly cross-border customs cooperation and information exchange networks "in order to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit transfer, the destabilising accumulation and misuse of small arms and small arms." 
• The Security Council also considers it necessary that Member States put in place, if it does not exist, laws, rules and administrative procedures to allow them to effectively control the production of small arms and small arms within their jurisdiction and the export, import, transit or retransfer of such weapons.
• It also asked Member States, relevant United Nations entities and intergovernmental organisations, regional and subregional organisations in a position to do so to cooperate and exchange information on persons suspected of trafficking.

• UNICEF, the United Nations International Children`s Educational Fund and ARM have announced a multi-year partnership to accelerate the development of new technologies to overcome the barriers that prevent millions of families from accessing basic health, education and support services. ARM is a family of instruction set architectures for computer processors developed by British company ARM Holdings, based on a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture.
• The partnership`s first action is to collaborate with global product strategy and design firm frog on a `Wearables for Good` challenge to generate ideas for new and innovative devices that tackle maternal and child health needs in emerging economies.
• The partnership will focus on enabling UNICEF to provide faster and more comprehensive help to children coping with the effects of mass urbanization and increased social and economic divides. Together, UNICEF and ARM will use their influence to encourage the tech sector to innovate for impact.
• The multi-year partnership will include launch of Wearables for Good design challenge that will seek to optimise wearable and sensor technology for children`s welfare. Running over six months, the challenge invites developers, designers, community partners and problem-solvers to design a wearable device that offers a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solution to pressing maternal, newborn or child health problems.
• ARM will work alongside UNICEF`s network of Innovation Labs and country offices to identify and scale up pilot projects that demonstrate the potential to be used at a national level. Over the next year, UNICEF and ARM will uncover the most impactful solutions being used or in trials across the UNICEF network and invest to deliver them wherever they are needed.

• Ireland has become the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a popular vote - 22 years after it legalised homosexuality.
• On May 19, 1897, Wilde - one of Ireland`s most famous sons and one of Victorian era`s greatest writers was released from prison having served two years of hard labour for being a homosexual.
• The Irish constitution will now read `Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex,` according to Frances Fitzgerald, minster for justice and equality.
• The government said "Being of the same sex will no longer be an impediment to marriage. Existing civil partners may marry each other. Religious solemnisers will not be obliged to solemnise the marriage of a couple of the same sex. At a marriage ceremony, the parties to a marriage will declare that they accept each other as "husband and wife" or as "spouses of each other". There will be amendments to a number of Acts to replace the words "husband" and "wife" with the word "spouse". A change of gender would have no effect on a marriage".

• Current Affirs Indian heritage Center has been launched by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 8th May. The center is located at the heart of Little India in the city state and which blends traditional Indian and modern architectural elements
• The museum, which is the first one dedicated to Indian history, starts with the early interactions between South Asia and Southeast Asia, then goes on to feature the origins and movement of Indians from the 19th century to the 21st century.
• The Little India center received a total of 368 artifacts through a collection drive in 2011. More than 200 of these pieces are now on display. 
• The center cost the National Heritage Board 16 million Singaporean dollars (around $12 million) to build and 5 million Singaporean dollars more to fit it out. Ethnic Indians comprise around 9.1 percent of Singapore`s population of 3.9 million.

• Pakistani Taliban on 10th May released a video showing its militants with a surface-to-air missile which it claimed was used to bring down an Army helicopter in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) that killed seven people including two Ambassadors.
• A video released by a jihadist media forum shows at least four masked militants with the surface-to-air missile (SAM-7B) allegedly used in hitting the Mi-17 that crashed in Naltar valley of Gilgit-Baltisitan in PoK.
• The message claimed that the missile was fired from a distance of three km to down the helicopter on 8th May. Norwegian envoy Leif H. Larsen and Domingo D. Lucenario Jr. of the Philippines were killed along with the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian Ambassadors, besides two Army pilots and a Pakistani crew member after the helicopter crashed.

• Sweden`s Supreme Court on 11th May has rejected an appeal by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange against his arrest warrant for alleged rape and sexual assault. Sweden issued the arrest warrant in 2010 following allegations from two Swedish women with the allegations. The Supreme Court noted in a statement that investigators have begun efforts to question Julian Assange in London and finds no reason to lift the arrest warrant.
• Assange has been ensconced in Ecuador`s embassy in London since 2012 to avoid extradition to the Scandinavian country. Assange, who faces arrest if he tries to leave the Ecuadorian embassy, has always vehemently denied the allegations and insisted the sexual encounters were consensual. Meanwhile Assange`s lawyer said that he has agreed to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in London.
• 42 killed, over 1000 injured as 7.3 magnitude quake hits Nepal
• A new powerful earthquake and several strong after shocks shook Nepal on 12th May killing at least 42 people and triggering panic in the Himalayan nation already devastated by a massive temblor less than three weeks back that had claimed over 8,000 lives. The earthquake sent strong tremors through several eastern and northern parts of India leaving 19 dead while 39 others injured.
• The earthquake struck at 12:35 PM, some 83 km east of Kathmandu near Mount Everest at a shallow depth of 15 km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts - the worst-affected areas in the last month`s temblor. There were five more aftershocks measuring over 5 on the Richter Scale after the second tremor. The tremors were also felt in China, where one woman was killed in Tibet.

1. Current Affirs French President Francois Hollande has met Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on a historic trip to Havana. Hollande is the first French president to visit Cuba since 1898, and the first Western head of state on the island since its thaw with Washington. He visited Cuba for the improvement of bilateral relations.

1. Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza`s attempt to return home to tackle a coup has failed and he has returned to Tanzania where he was attending a summit. The plane turned back after 10 minutes as it would have been unable to land safely in Burundi. Earlier, Gen. Niyombare had ordered the closure of the airport to prevent Mr. Nkurunziza`s plane from landing.

• According to a few reports in Burundi, the factions of the military still loyal to the President were in negotiations with those backing the coup to determine the next step. The loyalists still reportedly hold the presidential palace and main radio offices. The capital, Bujumbura, was said to be quiet last night. The UN and US have urged all sides to show restraint.
• Coup leader arrested: Three leaders of a failed coup against Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza have been arrested. However, coup leader General Godefroid Niyombare is "still on the run". The president has returned to the capital after being stuck in Tanzania. More than 105,000 people have fled the country since the unrest began last month, the UN says. 
• The President of Burundi declared on 15th May that peace had returned, two days after a failed military coup left the African nation in a state of chaotic violence.
• The attempted coup -- announced on 13th May over the radio by an army general while the President was out of the country -- was launched in the wake of deadly protests over Nkurunziza`s controversial intention to extend his rule beyond term limits. The unrest sparked fears that Burundi could plunge into ethnic violence, with the country`s history of civil war making it vulnerable to deep divisions. 
• Shortly after the President returned from his Tanzania summit on 15th May, authorities said that they had arrested Army Gen. Godefroid Niyombare, as well as the others involved in the failed plot. They will be charged with mutiny in a military court, said Willy Nyamitwe.

• The Vatican announced on 13th May that it had brokered a treaty with the "state of Palestine. The treaty is expected to be signed "in the near future
• The treaty is thought to mark the first time the Holy See has formally recognized Palestinian statehood in a legal document. 
• Vatican policy, however, has long held that a two-state solution is the best road to peace in the Holy Land. The Vatican has referred to Palestine as a state since November 2012, when the United Nations voted to recognize it as a nonmember observer state.

• At least 47 people have been killed and several others injured after eight gunmen entered a bus and opened indiscriminate fire on passengers in Pakistan`s southern port city Karachi. According to police, more than 60 people were onboard the bus.The injured have been shifted to various hospitals by rescue workers. The heavily-armed militants donning police uniforms left behind a pamphlet of ISIS claiming responsibility for the attack.

1. In USA, the House voted to pass the USA Freedom Act, which would effectively shut down portions of the NSA’s controversial domestic spying program in their current form.
2. The bill, passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 338 to 88, would put an end to the government’s bulk collection of phone records from U.S. telecoms—a program first uncovered by USA in 2006 and re-exposed in 2013 by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. 
3. The bill instead calls for records to be retained by telecoms and forces the NSA to obtain court orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to gain access to them. It also requires the agency to use specific search terms to narrow its access to only relevant records. 

1) Gagan Narang wins bronze medal at ISSF World Cup in the 50m Rifle Prone Event in held at Fort Benning in US.

• India’s ace shooter Gagan Narang won the bronze medal in the 50m Rifle Prone Event of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup.
• With this win he got qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics by earning himself a quota place.
• Narang is third Indian shooter to make the 2016 Rio Olympics cut after Jitu Rai and Apurvi Chandela. He had won won the bronze medal in 10m Rifle at the 2012 London Olympics.
• It should be noted for Olympics games, each participating country can win a maximum of 30 quota places from a total of 15 shooting disciplines (including shotgun events), two each from each discipline.

1. Michael McPhail of US by shooting 208.8 points won gold medal.
2. Ole Kristian Bryhn of Norway won silver medal by shooting 206.3 points.
3. Narang shot 185.8 points to secure third place.

• Ace India discus thrower won a bronze medal in the second leg of the prestigious IAAF Diamond League series held in Shanghai, China.
• The 31-year-old Gowda hurled the disc to a distance of 63.90m, which he achieved in his fifth and penultimate attempt to finish third behind 2013 World Championships silver medallist Piotr Malachowski (64.65m) of Poland and Robert Urbanek (64.47m), also of Poland.
• He is the National record holder with 66.28m.He is the winner of 2014 Commonwealth Games gold and Asian Games silver medals.
• With this win will pocket $4000 for the third-place finish, besides earning one Diamond League point.
• The United States-based Indian has a season`s best of 65.75m, which he achieved at La Jolla in California last month, he is yet to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, for which the qualifying standard is 66m.

• Novak Djokovic of Serbia won his fourth Rome Masters Tennis title. In the summit clash, Djokovic defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland 6-4, 6-3.
• With this win, Djokovic earned prize money of 628100 US dollar and 1000 Emirates ATP Rankings points.
• This was the fifth title of the season for Djokovic, the other titles are the Australian Open (defeated Andy Murray), the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (defeated Roger Federer), the Miami Open (defeated Andy Murray) and the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (defeated Tomas Berdych).

• Russian Maria Sharapova won the women’s singles of Italian Open for the third time by defeating Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro by 4-6 7-5 6-1 in Rome.
• The Italian Open is the most prestigious red clay tennis tournament in the world after the French Open.
• The men’s singles of the Italian Open (also called Rome Masters) was won by Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
• The men`s competition of the Open is an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour, and the women`s competition is a Premier 5 event on the Women`s Tennis Association (WTA) tour.
• The two events were combined in 2011. The tournament is played on clay courts, currently during the second week of May. The event is also known as the Rome Masters and the Italian Championships.

5) Joe Root named England`s Cricketer of the Year 2014-15.

• Joe Root was elected as England Cricketer of the Year for 2014-15 by British sports journalists; it was announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
• The 24-year-old has scored 1,135 Test runs at an average of nearly 95 over the past 12 months; He was also recently appointed vice-captain of England`s Test team.
• Charlotte Edwards was named England Women`s Cricketer of the Year for the second consecutive year and also received a silver cap to mark her 200th match as captain against New Zealand in February.
• Lancashire`s right-arm seamer Saqib Mahmood won the England Development Programme Cricketer of the Year award while Luke Sugg from England`s Visually Impaired team was named Disability Cricketer of the Year.

6) Ethiopian runners win both Men’s & Women’s titles in TCS World 10000m run.

• Ethiopian runners won both the Men’s and Women’s titles in the eighth edition of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) World 10 Thousand metre run in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• In Men’s category, Mosinet Geremew bagged the title, while his teammate Fikadu settled at second place.
• In the women’s section, Mamitu Daska bagged the title.
• In Indian Men’s category Suresh Kumar bagged the title. In women’s category Tamil Nadu’s Suriya Loganathan won the title.

• Brad Haddin, the Australian wicketkeeper batsman retired from One Day International (ODI) cricket. His final ODI appearance was the seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in World Cup final in Melbourne on 29 March 2015.
• He will continue to represent Australian side in Test and Twenty20 international cricket.
• He played 126 matches and scored 3122 runs at an average of 31.53 of which 110 (against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2010) was his highest score.
• As a wicketkeeper, he claimed 170 catches and did 11 stumping over 14 years in the 50-over format, which was the third-most dismissal for Australia after Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy.

• The British sports business magazine SportsPro released the World’s 50 Most Marketable 2015 report.
• According to SportsPro`s listing of the top 50 most marketable athletes in the world for 2015, Eugenie Bouchard, Tennis player from Canada, topped the list.
• FC Barcelona soccer Neymar stood at second place and was followed by Golfer Jordan Spieth at the third place.
• Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli was placed at the sixth position ahead of United States basketball star Stephen Curry. Another Indian, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal was placed at the 44th position.
• Tennis player Novak Djokovic was placed at 14th position while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were at 16th and 22nd respectively.

• Star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal regained the number one spot in the latest BWF world rankings.
• She was followed by Li Xuerui of China.
• In April 2015, she secured the number one position for the first time. But she subsequently slipped from the top spot.
• Nehwal`s compatriot and two-time World Championship bronze medalist P.V. Sindhu dropped to number 12.
• In men’s singles, K. Srikanth retained his fourth place. Even P. Kashyap and H.S. Parnnoy also maintained their 13th and 15th positions, respectively.

• Sharapova blasted the "disrespectful" treatment of fellow French Open champion Rafael Nadal.
• Nadal, the nine-time champion at Roland Garros and who boasts an astonishing record of 66 wins and just one defeat, comes into the 2015 tournament ranked seven in the world, his lowest in a decade.
• He is also without a European claycourt title for the first time in 10 years, a run of form which has prompted many in the sport to write off the Spaniard`s chances of a 10th Paris title.
• But Sharapova leapt to the defence of Nadal, a stablemate of hers at Nike.
• “He`s an incredible champion and he has no reason to be here doing it again” said 2012 and 2014 champion Sharapova. 

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION:

 Zuckerberg was born in 1984 in White Plains, New York.He is the son of dentist Edward Zuckerberg and psychiatrist Karen Kempner.He and his three sisters, Randi, Donna, and Arielle.

Zuckerberg was raised Jewish and had his bar mitzvah when he turned 13. Afterward, he became an atheist.

COLLEGE LIFE:

He studied psychology and computer science as well as belonging to Alpha Epsilon Pi, a Jewish fraternity, and Kirkland House. A short time later, he created a different program he initially called Facemash that let students select the best looking person from a choice of photos. According to Zuckerberg`s roommate at the time, Arie Hasit, "he built the site for fun". 

We had books called Face Books, which included the names and pictures of everyone who lived in the student dorms. At first, he built a site and placed two pictures, or pictures of two males and two females. Visitors to the site had to choose who was "hotter" and according to the votes there would be a ranking.

The site went up over a weekend. the college shut it down because its popularity had overwhelmed one of Harvard`s network switches and prevented students from accessing the Internet. In addition, many students complained that their photos were being used without permission.

The following semester, in January 2004, Zuckerberg began writing code for a new website.[26] On February 4, 2004, Zuckerberg launched "Thefacebook", originally located at thefacebook.com.

CARRER:

 LEGENCY:

1) Conference on India-Vietnam relations

• India also has 92 ongoing projects with a registered investment of US $ 1 billion and has announced a US $ 300 million credit line to diversify the supply and garment materials from India. The conference was organized to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Ho Chi Minh.

• According to foreign Secretary, S Jaishankar strengthening trust, increasing convergence, connectivity and strengthening counter terrorism cooperation between the two countries were the other issues that were discussed. On international front, UN Security Council reforms and India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group also came up for discussion.
• Later, President Jinping accompanied Prime Minister Modi to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Built in the sixth century, the Pagoda has strong Indian links. 
• Great Chinese traveller Xuanzang, after returning from India with Buddhist scriptures, came back here and translated them into Chinese language. 
• Buddha figurines brought by him were also kept here. This is a holy place for Buddhists and a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture. Both the leaders stayed together for about 45 minutes at the Pagoda. 
• The Prime Minister presented to the Chinese President replicas of a stone casket of Buddhist relics and a stone statue of Buddha that were excavated from a 3rd -4th century stupa at Dev Ni Mori near Vadnagar in Gujarat.

3) India-Bangladesh power secretary-level meeting held

• The installation of a high capacity multi-terminal HVDC bipole transmission line for power transmission between north and north-eastern India and Bangladesh was also discussed. 
• The meeting also reviewed the progress of the 1320 MW Moitree Super-thermal power plant being implemented by the India-Bangladesh Friendship Power Company.

• An action plan between the Indian Railways and China National Railways on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector was also signed. Agreements are…
• Protocols between India and China on the establishment of consulates-general at Chengdu and Chennai and the extension of the consular district of the consulate general of India in Guanzhou to include Jiangxi province.
• MoU between the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship of India and the ministry of human resources and social security of China on cooperation in the field of vocational education and skill development.
•     Action plan on cooperation in setting up of the Mahatma Gandhi National Institute for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• MoU between India and China on consultative mechanism for cooperation in trade negotiations.
• MoU on cooperation between the ministry of external affairs of India and international department of the central committee of the Communist Party of China.
• Action plan between the National Railway Administration of China and the ministry of railways of India on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector. (2015-16).
• MoU on education exchange programme.
• MoU between the ministry of mines of India and the ministry of land and resources of China on the cooperation in the mining and minerals sector.
• Space Cooperation Outline (2015-2020).
• Protocol on health and safety regulations on importing Indian rapeseed meal between the export inspection council, ministry of commerce and industry of India and the general administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine.
• MoU between Doordarshan and China Central Television on cooperation in the field of broadcasting.
• Agreement between the ministry of tourism of India and the national tourism administration of China on cooperation in the field of tourism.
• MoU on establishing India-China think-tanks forum.
• MoU between India`s Niti Aayog and the Development Research Centre, State Council of China.
• MoU between India`s ministry of earth sciences and the China Earthquake Administration concerning cooperation in the field of earthquake science and earthquake engineering.
• MoU between India`s ministry of earth sciences and the State Oceanic Administration of China on cooperation in the field of ocean science, ocean technology, climate change, polar science and cryosphere.
• MoU on scientific cooperation between Geological Survey of India, ministry of mines of India and the China Geological Survey, ministry of land and resources of China in geoscience.
• MoU between the ministry of external affairs of India and ministry of foreign affairs of China on establishment of states/provincial leaders` forum.
• Agreement on the establishment of sister-state/province relations between state government of Karnataka and provincial government of Sichuan of China.
• Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Chennai and Chongqing of China.
• Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Hyderabad and Qingdao of China.
• Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Aurangabad and Dunhuang of China.
• MoU between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Fudan University on the establishment of a centre for Gandhian and Indian studies.
• MoU between Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Yunnan Minzu University on the establishment of a yoga college  
• Chinese and Indian companies’ agreements
• Chinese companies have committed an investment of 22 billion US Dollars in India. 21 agreements in this regard were signed between Indian and Chinese partners in Shanghai on 16th May
• Axis Energy Ventures India signed a tripartite MoU in the renewable energy sector with Chinese companies Mingyang Wind Power and Global Wind Power.
• Essel Solar signed a pact with China`s JA Solar to set up a solar cell and module manufacturing facility.
• Wipro BPS`s pact with Dalian Municipal People`s Government and Yida China Holding was for an offshore delivery centre in Dalian.
• Bharti Airtel signed agreements with China Development Bank for financing for the purchase of equipment from ZTE and Huawei, and that under licence approved by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
• The Indian telecom operator also signed a credit facility deal with Industrial & Commercial Bank of China.
• Adani Group signed an agreement to establish an integrated PV industrial park in Mundra SEZ with China`s Golden Concord Holdings.
• Adani Power signed with China Development Bank a pact on financing of APL Mundra Power Plant Phase I, II and III.
• Adani Ports and SEZ signed a pact with Guangzhou Port Authority for establishment of a sister port relationship between Mundra Port and Guangzhou Port.
• Jindal Steel and Power signed an agreement with the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China for development of potential projects.
• Sun Group signed an MoU with Canadian Solar Power China to generage 5,000 MW of solar power in the next five years as well as manufacturing of solar modules.
• GMR Group signed with Guizhou International Investment Corporation an MoU on an industrial park in Kakinanda SEZ for high-end Chine equipment manufacturers.
• Infosys Technologies (China) signed an agreement with People`s Government of Qiannan Autonomous Prefecture to jointly build `China-India Information Service Corridor` in Qiannan Autonomous Prefecture.
• IL&FS or Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services signed an MoU with Industrial & Commercial Bank of China.
• IL&FS also signed a deal with China Huaneng Group.
• Welspun Group signed a deal with China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC) for an integrated steel project in Gujarat.
• Welspun Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China`s Trina Solar to jointly set up a photovoltaic industry park for production of 500 MW of photovoltaic cell and 500 MW of photovoltaic solar module in India.
• Autolite India signed a deal with Jinway Import & Export for manufacturing of high-tech capital goods in India.
• Bhushan Power and Steel signed a deal with CNTIC for a hot-rolled steel coil project.
• Eros Group signed an MoU with Shanghai Film Corporation for mutual development and exploration in opportunities in Indian and Chinese film markets.
• Eros Group also signed a pact with China Film Group for co-production of film Xuan Zang.
• NIIT China signed an MoU with Gui`an New Administrative Committee, Guizhou province for cooperation in the IT sector.
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) signed a pact with People`s Government of Guizhou for promoting Indian companies participating in IT projects.
• The industry chamber also signed a pact with Zhisland & Xifu for connecting Indian and Chinese private sector companies.
• Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers & Consultants signed a partnership agreement with China Railway SIYUAN Survey & Design Group.

5) ICICI bank in China

• The lender will facilitate international trade between China and other countries, support Chinese corporates and EPC (engineering, production and construction) contractors bidding for infrastructure projects and funding requirements in India. It will also cater to the needs of business expansion projects of Indian joint ventures and subsidiaries of Indian entities in China. Apart from this, it will also handle remittances from China to India.
• The bank’s global footprint includes a subsidiary in United Kingdom and Canada. Apart from this, the bank has international branches in United States, China, Singapore, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Qatar and Dubai International Finance Centre. It also has representative offices in United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia.

• Several other lenders such as State Bank of India, UCO Bank, Allahabad Bank among others also have a presence in China.

• Government had earlier proposed to bring the bill in the Lok Sabha, but faced stiff resistance from the opposition that wanted territories in Assam be included in it. Government will have to bring the Constitutional Amendment Bill for ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh. It would require ratification by at least 50 per cent of the state legislatures before it comes into effect.

1) Veteran Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor bestowed with Dada Saheb Phalke award.

• Veteran Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor honoured with the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai.
  
•  Shashi Kapoor became the 46th winner of the award.
  
•  He was awarded for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
  
•  Shashi Kapoor is the 3rd Person to Receive the Prestigious award from same family.
  
•  Prithviraj Kapoor: 1971.
  
•  Raj Kapoor: 1987.
  
•  Shashi Kapoor: 2015.
  
•  Shashi Kapoor best known performances as child artist were in Aag (1948), Awaara (1951) and Sangram (1950).
  
•  Shashi Kapoor is also best-known for his performances in Hindi films like ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’, ‘Deewar’ and ‘Kabhi Kabhie’.
  
• About Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
  
•  India’s highest award in cinema.
  
•  Established in 1969 to commemorate the birth centenary year of father of Indian cinema Dadasaheb Phalke.
  
•  The award is conferred annually by the Union Government to person for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
  
•  Award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees and a shawl.

2) Dr. Siva Mandjiny wins UNC’s 2015 Award for Teaching Excellence.

• An Indian-American professor of chemistry from Tamil Nadu has won the University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors 2015 Award for Excellence in Teaching.
  
•  The award carries a cash prize of 12,500 US dollars and a commemorative Bronze.
  
•  The award, which serves to underscore the importance of teaching, will be presented by a member of the Board of Governors to one professor at each of the 17 UNC campuses to receive the award during spring graduation ceremonies.
  
• About Dr. Siva Mandjiny:
  
•  Dr. Siva Mandjiny did his Masters degree in biochemical engineering from IIT, a second master’s degree in chemical engineering from University of Toronto and PhD from universite de Technologie de Compiegne in France.
  
•  Dr. Siva Mandjiny is a distinguished scholar with any published research papers, conference presentations etc.
  
•  Dr. Siva Mandjiny is also recipient of three Excellence in Teaching awards from the Students-Athlete Advisory Committee, and won university’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2006.

3) Indian Writer Neel Mukherjee Wins Encore Award.

• Kolkata-born writer Neel Mukherjee`s "The Lives of Others" has won the UK`s Encore Award for the best second novel.
  
•  His book `Past Continuous` won the `Vodafone-Crossword Book Award` in 2008.
  
•  `The Lives of Others` was shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize.
  
•  The novel The Lives of Others reflects the political and social convulsions of an entire society and based upon story of one family living in Calcutta in 1960s.
  
•  Neel Mukherjee’s first novel `A Life Apart` was published in 2010.
  
• About Encore Award:
  
•  This award was started in the year 1990 and sponsored by Lucy Astor.
  
•  The cash prize associated with this is 10,000 pounds.
  
•  Peter Benson and Paul Watkinswere the first recipients of this award in 1990.

4) President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Presidential Awards for Classical Tamil.

•  
• President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Presidential Awards for Classical Tamil for the years 2011-12 and 2012-13.
•  The award was conferred on scholars who have made outstanding contribution to the development of Classical Tamil language and literature.
• Awardees:
•  Tolkappiyar Award for lifetime achievement in Classical Tamil was given to SV Shanmugam for year 2011-12 and R Krishnamurthi for year 2012-13.
•  Kural Pitam Award was given to Eva Maria Wilden of Germany for 2011-12.
•  Young Scholar Awards was presented to E. Ezhilvasanthan, K. Jawahar and K. Iyyappan for 2011-12 while for the year 2012-13 was given to R. Venkatesan, A. Sathish, M.R. Devak, U. Alibava and B. Jaiganesh.

About the Presidential Awards for Classical Tamil:

1. These awards were instituted by the HRD or Ministry of Human Resources Department.
2.  These awards recognise distinguished scholars who had made outstanding contributions in the development of Classical tamil language and literature.
3.  Citation and shawl apart from cash award of 5 lakhs for Tolkappiyar and Kural pitam awardees and 1 lakhs for Young scholar awardees.

5) Anurradha Prasad conferred with Pt. Haridutt Sharma Award for Journalism and Social Services.

•  The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari conferred the “Pt. Haridutt Sharma Award” in the field of Journalism, Writing and Social Services to Smt. Anurradha Prasad, Editor-in-Chief, News-24 Channel.
•  The award is given in the memory of Pt. Haridutt Sharma who was a renowned journalist and eminent writer.
• About:
•  The award is given annually in the field of Journalism, Writing and Social Services for the outstanding contribution in their respective field.
•  The Award comprises of Cash prize of 51000 rupees, Citation, Trophy, Shawl and Souvenir.

6) Indian-American Harkeert Singh Saini won Prestigious Police Award in Texas.

• Prestigious award, “Top Civilian Supervisor of the Year”, was presented to the 44 year old Indo-American policemen, Harkeert Singh Saini at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Houston.
  
•  He was conferred with this award for his efficient services to Houston Police department, in the Texas state of USA.
  
•  He received this award from Mayor of Houston Anise Parker and Chief of Police Charles McClelland.
  
• About Harkeert Singh
  
•  Harkeert Singh belongs to Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, who completed his graduation from Deshbandu College in New Delhi.
  
•  He settled in Houston,Texas in 1998 and joined Houston Police Department in the year 2000.

1) Nod for PSLV programme

• The Union Cabinet on 21st May gave its approval for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Continuation Programme of 15 operational flights of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C36 to PSLV-C50. The total fund requirement is Rs 3,090 crore and includes the cost of 15 PSLV vehicles, Programme Elements, Programme Management and Launch Campaign.
•  
• All the fifteen operational flights would be completed during the period 2017-2020. With the recent successful launch of PSLV-C26 on 16th October 2014, PSLV has completed three developmental and twenty-five operational flights and the last twenty-seven flights have been successively successful
• In India, the launch vehicle development programme began in the early 1970s. The first experimental Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) was developed in 1980. An Augmented version of this, ASLV, was launched successfully in 1992. India has made tremendous strides in launch vehicle technology to achieve self-reliance in satellite launch vehicle programme with the operationalisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
• PSLV is capable of launching 1600 kg satellites in 620 km sun-synchronous polar orbit and 1050 kg satellite in geo-synchronous transfer orbit. In the standard configuration, it measures 44.4 m tall, with a lift off weight of 295 tonnes. PSLV has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately. The first stage is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in the world and carries 139 tonnes of propellant. A cluster of six strap-ons attached to the first stage motor, four of which are ignited on the ground and two are air-lit.
• The reliability rate of PSLV has been superb. With its variant configurations, PSLV has proved its multi-payload, multi-mission capability in a single launch and its geosynchronous launch capability. In the Chandrayaan mission, another variant of PSLV with an extended version of strap-on motors, PSOM-XL, the payload haul was enhanced to 1,750 kg in 620 km SSPO. PSLV has rightfully earned the status of workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO. As of 2014 the PSLV has launched 71 spacecraft (31 Indian and 40 foreign satellites) into a variety of orbits.4 Some notable payloads launched by PSLV include India`s Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe and the Mars Orbiter Mission.

2) Hidden world of ocean`s tiniest organisms revealed

• The hidden world of the ocean`s tiniest organisms has been revealed in a series of papers published in the journal Science. An international team has been studying samples of plankton collected during a three-year global expedition.
  
• They have so far found 35,000 species of bacteria, 5,000 new viruses and 150,000 single-celled plants and creatures. They believe that the majority of these are new to science. Planktonic organisms are minute, but together they make up 90 per cent of the mass of all of the marine life in the oceans.

3) India @ 24 in environmental index

• Washington-based World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Access Initiative on 20 May 2015 released the first Environmental Democracy Index (EDI) for the year 2015. The index evaluates the environmental democracy in 70 countries based on recognised international standards.
  
• The index evaluates whether Governments are enacting national laws to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in environmental decision making. It is assessed and analysed by more than 140 international lawyers and experts.
  
• India was ranked at 24th position out of 70 countries in the first Environmental Democracy Index that is topped by Lithuania at the first position, Latvia at the second and Russia at the third position.
  

1) Prime Minister releases commemorative coin on Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati in New Delhi.
• The Hindu spiritual leader and teacher inspired the formation of Chinmaya Mission, a worldwide nonprofit organisation, to spread the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta, the non dual system of thought found in the Upanishads, which epitomise the philosophical teachings of the Vedas.
• Advaita Vedanta is the nondual system of thought found in the Upanishads, which epitomise the philosophical teachings of the Vedas.

1. He was born as Balakrishna Menon on 8 May 1916.
2. He was known for teaching Bhagavad gita, the Upanishads, and other ancient Hindu scriptures.
3. Since 1951, he had spearheaded a global Hindu spiritual and cultural renaissance that popularised the religion’s esoteric scriptural texts and also taught them in English all across India and abroad.
4. He had authored around 95 publications that mostly include commentaries on the major Upanishads and Bhagavad gita.
5. He was also a visiting professor of Indian philosophy at several American and Asian universities. He also had conducted university lecture tours in many countries.
6. He died on 3 August 1993 at age 77 in San Diego, California of United States.

• Lok Sabha gave its nod for the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2015 which seeks to repeal 36 archaic laws either partially or entirely as they have ceased to be in force or have become obsolete
• With this, the bill has been passed by both the houses of Parliament as Rajya Sabha passed the bill on 5 May 2015.
• Out of the 36 acts, four acts will be repealed entirely. These include The Indian Fisheries Act, 1897, The Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 and The Sugar Undertakings (Taking over of Management) Act, 1978.
• The remaining 32 Acts that are being repealed are amendments to principal Acts. These include amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Anand Marriage Act, 1909 the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 among others.
• A similar bill, the Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 8 December 2014 and is lying with the Rajya Sabha. It is sought to repeal 90 laws and pass amendments to two laws. Out of 90 laws, 88 laws will be repealed completely.

3) PM Modi to unveil 3 social security schemes in Kolkata.

• Minister Narendra Modi launched three mega social security schemes in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Three schemes intend to widen the process of financial inclusion in the country include Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

• Under APY scheme, the pension subscribers will receive a fixed minimum monthly pension ranging from 1,000 rupees to 5,000 rupees at the age of 60 years.
• The fixed minimum monthly pension will be depending on the contributions subscribers.

1. Union Government will co-contribute 50 percent of the total contribution of subscriber for a period of 5 years.

• Subscribers must have bank account and should not be members of any statutory social security scheme and or Income Tax payers.
• The minimum age of joining: 18 years and maximum age is 40 years.
• Focus of APY: To target unorganised sector workers.

1. The pension will also be available to the spouse on the death of the subscriber and thereafter, the pension corpus would be returned to the nominee.
2. Subscriber and Enrolment Payment: It will auto-debited from the accounts account holders depending upon selected monthly pension range.
3. Enrolment agencies: Subscribers will be enrolled through institutional architecture of National Pension System by all Points of Presence (Service Providers) and Aggregators under Swavalamban Scheme.

• It will be administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

• Under the PMJJBY, the insurance subscriber will get an annual life insurance in case of death.

1. Available any person in the age group of 18 to 50 years having a bank account.
2. Risk Coverage:
3. 2 Lakh rupees in case of death due to any reason.
4. Payment Mode of premium:
5. 330 rupees per annum will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account.
6. Implementation of Scheme:
7. Will be offered by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and all other life insurers who are willing tie-up with banks for the purpose of joining the scheme.

• Under the PMSBY, the insurance subscriber will get annual life insurance in case of accidental death, partial disability or full disability.

1. Available to any person in the age group 18 to 70 years.
2. Any person having Aadhaar number linked bank account can join the scheme.
3. He/she must give a simple form to the bank every year before 1st of June. In the form name of nominee also must be given.

1. For accidental death and full disability– 2 Lakh rupees.
2. For partial disability – 1 Lakh rupees.
3. Payment Mode of premium: 12 rupees per annum will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account in case of long-term option.
4. Implementation of Scheme: Will be offered by all Public Sector General Insurance Companies and all other insurers who are willing tie-up with banks for the purpose of joining the scheme.

• As per the provisions of the Constitution, Education as a subject is on the Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule. So central government and state government are agreed to establish central university in Jammu & Kashmir.
• By recognizing the needs of higher education, the Central Government has launched the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
• Based on the State Higher Education Plan (SHEP) submitted by the state of Jammu & Kashmir under RUSA, the Central Government has approved setting up of two universities by clustering of colleges at Srinagar and Jammu.

1. Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) "National Higher Education Mission" is a holistic scheme of development for higher education in India initiated in 2013 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
2. The centrally sponsored scheme aims at providing strategic funding to higher educational institutions throughout the country.
3. Funding is provided by the central ministry through the state governments and union territories (UT), which in coordination with the central Project Appraisal Board will monitor the academic, administrative and financial advancements taken under the scheme.

1. RUSA aims to provide equal development to all higher institutions and rectify weaknesses in the higher education system. Its target achievement is to raise the gross enrolment ratio to 32% by the end of XII Plan in 2017.
2. Improve equity in higher education by providing adequate opportunities of higher education to SC/STs and socially and educationally backward classes.

5) Modi dedicates India`s largest blast furnace plant to nation.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the upgraded IISCO Steel Plant (ISP), that houses the country`s largest blast furnace and has been modernised by the central government at a cost of Rs. 16,000 crore.
• After modernisation, the plant`s production capacity has increased from 0.85 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 2.9 mtpa.

• The Lok Sabha passed a tough bill imposing heavy penalties for stashing black money abroad.
• Introduced in the Lok Sabha by finance minister Arun Jaitley, the Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015, seeks to impose a 120% of tax and penalty on undisclosed foreign assets and income besides a jail term of up to 10 years.
• Under the proposed law, there would be a short compliance window within which persons with undisclosed income abroad can come clean by paying 30 per cent tax and 30 per cent penalty.
• Once the window closes, anyone found having undeclared overseas wealth would be required to pay 30 per cent tax, 90 per cent penalty and face criminal prosecution.
• There could be a two-month window to declare overseas assets and income and a six-month period to pay tax and penalty.

• A Constitution Amendment Bill providing for roll out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was referred to a select committee, which consists of 21 members.
• Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved the motion for referring the Bill (The Constitution 122 Amendment Bill, 2014) to the Select Committee.

1. The committee members are Chandan Mitra and Ajay Sancheti (of BJP), Madhusudan Mistry, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Bhalchandra Mungekar (of Congress), Naresh Agrawal (SP), K.C. Tyagi (JD-U), Derek O`Brien (Trinamool Congress), Satish Chandra Misra (BSP), A. Navaneethakrishnan (AIADMK), K.N. Balagopal (CPI-M), Dilip Kumar Tirkey (BJD), C.M. Ramesh (TDP), Praful Patel (NCP), Kanimozhi (DMK), Anil Desai (Shiv Sena), Naresh Gujral (SAD), Mohammad Fayaz (PDP), D. Raja (CPI), Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Independent).
2. AIADMK was the only party to have declared its opposition to the economic reform measure 

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for moving official amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012.

• Employment of children below 14 years prohibited in all occupations and processes and age of prohibition of employment linked to age under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. 

1. Where the child helps his family or family enterprises, which is other than any hazardous occupations or processes set forth in the Schedule, after his school hours or during vacations.
2. Where the child works as an artist in an audio-visual entertainment industry, including advertisement, films, television serials or any such other entertainment or sports activities except the circus, such work does not affect the school education of the child.
3. A new definition of adolescent has been introduced in the CLPR Act and employment of adolescents (14 to 18 years of age) has been prohibited in hazardous occupations and processes. These provisions would go a long way in protecting adolescents from the employment not suitable to their age.

1. In case of first offence of employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act, penalty would be imprisonment for a term not less than six months but which may extend to two years or with fine not less than Rs. 20,000, but which may extend to Rs. 50,000 or with both.
2. In case of a second or subsequent offence of employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act, the minimum imprisonment would be one year which may extend to three years.
3. Punishment for parents/ guardians: In the Principal Act, the same punishment was provided for parents/ guardians for permitting a child to work in contravention of the Act, the penalty would be a fine which may extend to Rs. 10,000.

• The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act (CLPR Act) 1986 prohibits employment of a child in 18 occupations and 65 processes and regulates the conditions of working of children in other occupations/ processes.

• The Lok Sabha passed the negotiable Instruments Bill and it mainly aims at making filing of cases more convenient for payees if cheques bounce.
• It was passed by a voice vote and it necessitated due to a Supreme Court order that cases those having defaulted on their cheque.
• The Negotiable Instruments Bill 2015 was passed by a voice vote, with Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha he insisted that it would boost the “integrity of financial system” and not lead to the harassment of the common man.
• The courts were currently dealing with 21 lakh cheque bounce cases with 259 courts hearing them exclusively.

• The USTAD, a welfare scheme aimed at upgrading and promoting the skills of artisans from the minority community was launched by Union Minority affairs Minister Najma Heptulla in Varanasi, Uttara Pradesh.
• USTAAD means Upgradation of Skills and Training in Ancestral Arts/ Crafts for Development, aimed at minorities.
• It linked to the Make in India campaign and it is the first scheme being drafted for the minorities.

• The India Pavilion at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival was inaugurated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
• India had signed co-production agreements with certain countries and five co-productions have been undertaken with France.
• He also unveiled the 46th IFFI, 2015 regulations and India film guide.
• The India’s Gurvinder Singh`s film Chauthi Koot (Punjabi) and Neeraj Ghaywan`s Masaan are chosen to be screened in the official Uncertain regard section of the Jamboree.

• The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) approved the Gujarat State Climate Change Action Plan 2015-2020.
• This plan was prepared by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

1. To create public health projects, environment-friendly water resource management.
2. Forest and environment improvement projects.
3. Agriculture improvement projects.
4. For this the state government proposed to invest more than 21,000 crore rupees in the action plan by 2020.

• Maharashtra government has decided to ban digging of borewells beyond 200 feet to check the steep decline in ground water level.
• And violators, in repeated offence will face a fine of Rs. 25,000 or imprisonment of six months.
• The move is part of governments ambitious water conservation project Jalayukta Shivar Yojana, which makes 5,000 villages in the state drought-free in one year.

• Agriculture Department of Punjab launched an ambitious program to monitor the soil health of every farm in the state by issuing them personalised soil health card.
• Under this every district has assigned one mobile soil testing lab that would take soil sample from every form and issue a digitalized soil health card with centralized data of central server of the department.
• Each health card holder to be issued written advisory on usage of fertilisers and seeds adaptability.

1) ,000-yr-old water supply system unearthed

• An ancient aqueduct built more than 2,000 years ago to transport water into the city of Jerusalem has been unearthed. According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, a section of Jerusalem`s Lower Aqueduct, which conveyed water to the city more than 2,000 years ago, was exposed in the Umm Tuba quarter (near Har Homa) during the construction of a sewer line.
• The authority conducted an archaeological excavation there following the discovery of the aqueduct. The aqueduct begins at the `En `Eitam spring, near Solomon`s Pools, south of Bethlehem, and is approximately 21 kilometers long. Despite its length, it flows along a very gentle downward slope whereby the water level falls just one meter per kilometer of distance. 
• At first, the water was conveyed inside an open channel and about 500 years ago, during the Ottoman period, a terra cotta pipe was installed inside the channel in order to better protect the water.
• The aqueduct`s route was built in open areas in the past, but with the expansion of Jerusalem in the modern era, it now runs through a number of neighborhoods: Umm Tuba, Sur Bahar, East Talpiot and Abu Tor. Since this is one of Jerusalem`s principal sources of water, the city`s rulers took care to preserve it for some two thousand years, until it was replaced about a century ago by a modern electrically operated system. 
• Due to its historical and archaeological importance, the Israel Antiquities Authority is taking steps to prevent any damage to the aqueduct, and is working to expose sections of its remains, study them and make them accessible to the general public.

• According to a new report released on 27th May, the number of people in the world still going to bed hungry 15 years after the U.N. placed eradicating hunger and extreme poverty at the top of its Millennium Development Goals has dropped to 795 million. The report by three U.N. agencies claims that number is a reduction of 167 million people over the last 10 years.
• Only 72 of the world`s 129 developing countries, 56 percent, met the MDG of reducing the proportion of hungry people by half in the last 15 years, said the report, "State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015".
• South Asia faces the highest burden of hunger, where as many as 281 million people lack sufficient food Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of hunger, with more than 23 percent of the population not getting enough to eat
• Poor governance, violent conflicts and protracted crises are holding back many African nations. In 1990, 12 countries across the continent were facing food crises. Twenty years later the number has risen to 24, including 19 that have been in crisis for more than eight of the previous 10 years. The regions that made the most progress include……
• South America, where less than 5 percent of the population faces hunger now, a reduction of more than 50 percent since 1990.
• Central Asia, South East Asia and parts of North Africa also showed significant progress, said the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other Rome-based U.N. agencies.
• Support for the poor through social investments, such as cash transfer programmes, employment projects, food distribution schemes, health care and education helped successful countries reduce the number of hungry residents, U.N. agencies said.
• Strong harvests in much of the world, coupled with reduced oil prices, mean that global food costs are nearing a five-year low.
• These trends, along with economic growth and other factors, helped reduce the number of hungry people worldwide by 10 million in the past year, according to the FAO.
• In the developed countries, some 15 million people also suffer from hunger, the report said.

3) India tops world hunger list with 194 million people

• India is home to 194.6 million undernourished people, the highest in the world, according to the annual report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released on 28th May. This translates into over 15 per cent of India’s population, exceeding China in both absolute numbers and proportion of malnourished people in the country`s population.
• The organization has released the report The State of Food Insecurity in the World. 
• The report suggests that….
• This is a result of growth not being inclusive. Rural people make up a high percentage of the hungry and malnourished in developing countries, and efforts to promote growth in agriculture and the rural sector can be an important component of a strategy for promoting inclusive growth.
• There has however been a significant reduction in the proportion of undernourished people in India — by 36 per cent — from 1990-92.
• In India, the extended food distribution programme has contributed to a positive outcome

• Nuclear envoys from South Korea,Japan and the United States met in Seoul on 27th May, seeking a way forward to revive long-stalled, six-party talks with North Korea on its nuclear weapons programme. The effort comes as North Korea ramps up its nuclear rhetoric, boasting last week of its ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to fit on high-precision, long-range rockets. According to Hwang Joon-kook, South Korea`s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, dialogue was particularly timely given what was described as an uncertain and tense situation in North Korea. After the dialogue in Seoul, the South Korean and US envoys were set to fly to Beijing to meet with their Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei.

5) Migrant crisis: EU asks member states to accept 40,000 asylum seekers

• The European Commission has called on EU member states to take in 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea who land in Italy and Greece over the next two years. Germany, France and Spain would receive the most migrants under the Commission`s latest plan. The idea of using quotas to resettle those who have made it to Europe has caused controversy in some EU states. The UK government says that it will not take part in such a system.

• concerns, and a final decision will be taken by EU governments after a vote by MEPs. Denmark has the right to opt out of the plan while Ireland and the UK can decide whether they wish to opt in.
• This is in addition to moves announced earlier this month by the EU for a voluntary scheme to settle 20,000 refugees fleeing conflict who are currently living outside the EU.
• Pakistan ‘haven’ for several Islamist terror groups: US Report
• Syrian activists say the Islamic State group has released two Christian women who had been held along with dozens others since February in northeastern Syria. IS had kidnapped more than 220 Assyrian Christians in February, after overrunning several farming communities on the southern bank of the Khabur River in Hassakeh province. 
• Osama Edwards, director of the Assyrian Network for Human Rights, says the women, who are 70 and 75 years old, were released on Tuesday and have now reached the northwestern city of Hassakeh.
• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday the two were likely released because of their poor health. Some of the captives were released previously. Edwards says the Islamic State is still holding 210 Assyrian Christians and is demanding $100,000 for each hostage.

 1)   Name the bank that launched Tap-n-Pay Service? 

Ans : (2)
1. Axis Bank
2. ICICI Bank
3. HDFC
4. SBI
5. Andhra Bank

Explanation: ICICI Bank has launched an NFC-enabled payment service called ‘Tap-n-Pay’. . Tap-n-Pay’ payment service is based on near-field communication (NFC) technology which will allow customers to make over the counter payments without using cash. . ICICI Bank has launched this service in collaboration with Tech Mahindra.

 2)Name the player who won Bahrain Grand Prix? 

Ans : (4)
1. Nicorosberg
2. KimiRaikkonen
3. Sebastian Vettel
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. None

Explanation: British Formula One Racing Driver from England, Lewis Hamilton won Bahrain Grand Prix for Second time in a row. . Lewis Hamilton’s win at Bahrain Grand Prix made him tasted 36th title of his career. . German Racing Driver NicoRosberg was the first runner up

 3)Indian Navy Launched INS Visakhapatnam recently. Now who is the Indian Navy Chief?

 Ans : (1)
1. R.K. Dhowan
2. V. seshadri Sharma
3. R. Radha Krishna Murthy 
4. V. VenkateswarRao
5. N. Shiva rajasekhar

Explanation: Indian Navy launches its first stealth destroyer of project 15 B class, INS Visakhapatnam. . The Warship has a displacement of 7,300 tonnes and is 163 metres in length. . INS Visakhapatnam was launched by R.K. Dhowan’s wife MinuDhawan.

 4) Indian Railways launched ……….. to monitor rail projects online? 

Ans : (2)
1. E-Samvidhan
2. E-Samiksha
3. E-Sadviniyoga
4. E-railway 
5. E-Rail Nilayam

Explanation: Indian Railways has launched E-Samiksha to monitor rail projects online. . E-Samiksha an online monitoring mechanism is designed by National Informatics Centre (NIC). . E-Samiksha aims as monitoring implementation of various ongoing projects of Railways on real time basis

 5) Recently Civil Services day was observed on …………? 

Ans : (2)
1. 20thapril 
2. 21stapril
3. 22nd April
4. 23rd April 
5. 24thapril

Explanation:Ninth Civil Services Day was observed on 21st April, 2015. . Civil Services Day is observed by all civil servants to re-dedicate and re-committhemselves to the cause of the people. Note: Prime Minister NarendraModi launched a book on this event titled “BestPractices –Tomorrow is there”

 6)NovokDjokovic Won Monte Carlo Masters Title by defeating Tomas Berdych. Tomas belongs to which country?

 Ans : (1)
1. Czech republic
2. Britain
3. Argentina
4. Brazil
5. France

Explanation: Novak Djokovic has won his second Monte Carlo Masters title of Tennis. . Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. . This was Novak Djokovic’s 23rd World tennis Title which brings him equal to Roger Federar and just 4 titles behind Rafael Nadal. Novak Djokovic is ranked World No.1 in Tennis Ranking.

 7)Pollution Management and Environment Health Program (PHEM) established by World Bank. It will focus air quality management in how many urban areas?

 Ans : (3)
1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
4. 6
5. 7

Explanation: :- World Bank has established pollution Management and Environment Health (PHEM) promgram which will focus on air quality management. . PHEM program will initially run from 2015 to 2020 with an estimated amount of 45 million US dollar. . The program will focus on air quality management in five major urban areas India, China, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

 8)Which among the following won Putlizer Prize? 

Ans : (1)
1. New York Times
2. Forbes Magazine
3. India Today
4. American times Magazine
5. None

Explanation: The New York Times has won two Pulitzer prizes for coverage of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. . The New York Times staff won the Pulitzer Prize for International reporting. . DanialBerechulak, a freelancer won Pulitzer prize for the feature photography

 9)22nd April was observed across the World as………..? 

Ans : (4)
1.International Mother’s day
2. International father’s Day
3. International Mother & Child day
4. International Mother earth day
5. International Scholars day

Explanation: International Mother Earth Day was observed on 22nd April around the world. . International Mother Earth Day 2015 was observed with the theme “It’s our turn to lead”

 10) Which country’s train set the World speed record of 603 KMPH? 

Ans : (3)
1. China
2. India
3. Japan
4. France
5. USA

Explanation: :Japanese Bullet train Maglev set a new world speed record of 603 kmph. . Maglev train broke its previous world record of 580 kmph up in the year 2003

 11) Who is the CEO of “Make My Trip” which is the Online Travel Service Provider company? 

Ans : (2)
1. DeepikaPiyush
2. Deep Kalra
3. DeepaMatondkar
4. DeepthiKanetkar
5. None

Explanation: Online travel Service provider Make My Trip has acquired startup travel guideMygola. . Mygola was founded in 2009 by AnshumanBapna and prateek Sharma.

 12) Which country’s President was honoured with Nishan-E- Pakistan recently? 

Ans : (1)
1. China
2. Japan
3. India
4. Nepal
5. Bangladesh

Explanation: Chinese President Xi Jinping is honoured with Nishan-e-Pakistan Award. . Nishan-e-Pakistan award is the highest civilian award of Pakistan. . The award was presented by the president of Pakistan MamnoonHussain.

 13) Union Finance Ministry retained the rate of Interest at how much percent for GPF for the year 2015-16?

Ans : (1)
1. 8.7% 
2. 7.8%
3. 9.0%
4. 5.7%
5. 4.8%

Explanation: The interest rate will apply on provident funds of central government employees,railways and defense forces. About GPF- General Provident Fund (i) Interest rate for senior citizens saving scheme hiked from 9.2% to 9.3% (ii) Interest rate for SukanyaSamridhi account hike from 9.2% to 9.3%

 14) Recently which day is observed as World Book and Copy right day? 

Ans : (3)
1. 21st April
2. 22nd April
3. 23rd April
4. 24th April
5. 25th April

Explanation: UN has observed World Book and Copyright Day across the world on 23rd April 2015. . UNESCO has designated Inchon, South Korea as the World Book Capital for the year 2015 . World Book Day was celebrated first time on 23rd April 1995 by UNESCO. . UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

 15) Among the following who is the youngest US Surgeon General? 

Ans : (3)
1. Andry Murray
2. Boris Lushanky
3. Vivek Murthy
4. Ravindra Narayan
5. Ajay Kuldeep

Explanation: Indian-American Vivek Murthy took oath as 19th US Surgeon General. . Vivek Murthy’s oath was administered by the Vice-President of US, Joe Biden. . Vivek Murthy succeeded Boris D. Lushniak to be the youngest ever in charge of US Public Health

  16) KPMG is known as ………..?

 Ans : (2)
1. UN Body
2. Accounting Firm
3. Financial Organization
4. NGO
5. None

Explanation: Renowned US Accounting firm KPMG elected Lynne Doughite to be the new CEO and Chairman. . Lynne Doughite succeeded John Veihmeyer to be the first women CEO and Chairman of KPMG International . KPMG is among the World’s leading professional services and one of the four biggestaccounting firms is US. . CEO –Chief Executive Officer

 17)Name the actor who won Dada SahebPhalke film foundation Award? 

Ans : (2)
1. Salman Khan 
2. Shahrukh khan
3. Aamir Khan
4. AmtabhBacchan
5. Rishi Kapoor

Explanation: Bollywood king Shahrukh Khan is honoured with Dada SahebPhalke film foundation Award 2015. . Shahrukh Khan was conferred with the award for his performance in the movie ‘ Happy New Year’

 18) Which Ministry launched a new mobile app called “Utsonmobile”?

 Ans : (1)
1. Railway Ministry
2. Road transport Ministry
3. Agriculture Ministry
4. Culture & Heritage Ministry
5. Home Ministry 

Explanation: Railway ministry has launched a new mobile app, ‘Utsonmobile’ for paperless unreserved tickets. . The application will cover 15 stations between Egmore and Tambram Suburban sections in Chennai of the southern Railway. . The application is developed by centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). Note: Suresh Prabhu is Union Railway Minister.

 19)PCI was suspended for poor management and conduct of …………… National Para Athletics Championships held in Ghaziabad.?

 Ans : (2)
1. 14th
2. 15th
3. 16th
4. 17th
5. 20th 

Explanation: Union Sports ministry has suspended the recognisation of Paralympics Committee of India (PCI) . Saravanansonwal is the Union sports Minister . Earlier PCI was indefinitely suspended by the International Paralympics Committee (IPC).

 20) Now The new age limit for heinous crimes is ………………?

 Ans : (4)
1. 18 years 
2. 15 years
3. 17 years
4. 16 years 
5. 20 years

Explanation: :- Union Cabinet has approved lowering of age of juveniles from eighteen to sixteen years for heinous crimes. It cleared the amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act in this regard during a meeting in New Delhi this evening. Official sources said that the amendment seeks to try juvenile in the age group of 16 to 18 years as adults for heinous crimes.

 21) The issue of Net Neutrality during the Zero Hour in the LokSabha recently was raised by which party leader?

 Ans : (1)
1. Rahul Gandhi
2. Sonia Gandhi
3. SeetaramYechury
4. SharadPawar
5. None

Explanation: Mr Gandhi alleged that the government is trying to hand over the control of internet to corporate houses. He questioned if the government is serious not to impinge on the Internet freedom why it has started the consultation process.

 22) Recently, The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting received the ……………. Certification from the British Standards Institute for the broadcasting and print media and films?

 Ans : (1)
1. ISO 9001:2008
2. ISO 9001:10000
3. ISO 9001:2015 
4. ISO 9001:2001
5. ISO 9001:2015

Explanation: The Ministry has put in place a well defined procedure and measures for ensuring quality of services offered to the customers on the basis of ISO 9001:2008. It will ensure delivery of services by the Ministry in a qualitative manner.

 23)A device for advance assessment of damage to buildings in cities prone to earthquake was developed by which Indian Institute?

 Ans : (4)
1. IIT-Roorkee
2. IIT-Delhi
3. IISC Bangalore
4. IIIT-Hyderabad
5. IIT-Ranchi

Explanation: The information on the level of shaking will come from seismological inputs in a particular area. The device is now being tested for its efficacy.

 24) Two Indians were selected for the 2015 Yale World Fellows in which country for their exemplary mid-career work? 

Ans : (1)
1. US
2. UAE
3. UK
4. USSR
5. Canada

Explanation: An Indian conflict reporter, Rahul Pandita and a health care founder, ZeenaJohar has been selected by the prestigious Ivy League university. They were chosen from a pool of about 4,000 applicants for the New Haven, Connecticut-based university`s signature global leadership development initiative. Every year, the University invites a group of exemplary mid-career professionals from a wide range of fields and countries for an intensive four-month period of academic enrichment and leadership training.

 25) Numaligarh Refinery Limited of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with which company for export of petroleum products recently?

 Ans : (2)
1.Dhaka Oil Corporation 
2.Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation
3.Dacca Petroleum Corporation 
4.Kualalampur Oil Corporation
5.None of these

Explanation: The MoU provides for export of petroleum products from NRL’s Marketing Terminal in Siliguri to Bangladesh Petroleum’s Depot at Parbatipur in Bangladesh through the proposed ‘Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline.

26)Which country will open a museum on India`s diverse heritage and culture in May 2015?

 Ans : (4)
1. Nepal
2. Sri Lanka
3. France
4. Singapore
5.Malaysia

Explanation: Prime Minister Lee HsienLoong will launch the Centre as a focal point for the Indian community, and a platform to learn more about the diverse Indian heritage in Singapore. Indian architecture and artifacts would be showcased at the Indian Heritage Centre. The first of its kind museum in the country will be inaugurated on 7th May`15.

 27) Which Government has started the excavation work for revival of Saraswathi river?

 Ans : (2)
1. Punjab 
2. Haryana
3. Uttar Pradesh
4. Uttarkhand
5. Jharkhand

Explanation: The excavation work to revive the ancient river Saraswati has started in the village of Rolaheri in Yamunanagar district. South Indian Scholar Dr. Ratnakar has shown deep interest in initiating work on the project. Haryana Government has prepared a Rs 50 crore `Saraswati Revival Project` for it however the initial excavation work have been taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

 28) Maharashtra government told the High Court that `Eating ………….. is not a fundamental right` of a citizen? 

Ans : (1)
1. Beef
2. Meat
3. Pig meat
4. Chicken
5. Prawns

Explanation: Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court that it is not a fundamental right of a citizen to eat beef and the state legislation can regulate consumption of flesh of animals.

 29) Telangana Government is keen to develop which city as Health Hub? 

Ans : (2)
1. Adilabad
2. Hyderabad
3. Ranga Reddy
4. Medak
5. Mahabubnagar

Explanation: The Chief Minister, who held a meeting in Hyderabad with reputed doctors and officials, favoured manufacturing medical devices like stents in the state and the production of the medical devices would reduce the medical expenses.

 30) Which organisation developed a technology to differentiate between beef and buffalo meat?

 Ans : (2)
1. National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resource
2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research
3. International Council of Agricultural Research
4. National Council of Agriculture Research
5. None of these

Explanation: In Haryana, National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resource (NBAGR), Karnal has developed a technology to differentiate between beef and buffalo meat. The technology is based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and it can easily differentiate accurately between the beef and buffalo meat. The international patent registration of the technology is underway. The technologies already available for it were expensive, while it would be economical.

  31) Zimbabwe team will be the first Test team to tour which country since 2009?

 Ans : (3)
1. India
2. Bangladesh 
3. Pakistan
4. Srilanka
5. Australia

Explanation: No Test team has toured Pakistan since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

 32) A ………………card will be issued within 48 hours of applying as the government is going to launch an online facility.

 Ans : (2)
1. Ration Card 
2. PAN card
3. Aadhar Card
4. Credit Card
5. Passport

Explanation: Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a 10-digit alpha numeric number, issued in the form of a laminated card by the Income Tax Department. Besides, special camps will be organised throughout the country, including rural areas, to help people get PAN cards.

 33) Jammu & Kashmir e will host the Federation Cup of ……………. Match in Aug`15? 

Ans : (3)
1. Volley ball
2. Kabaddi
3. Foot Ball
4. Cricket
5. Kho-Kho

Explanation: Jammu and Kashmir will host this year`s Federation Cup football championship in Srinagar.

 34) Heyuancity holds the world record for largest number of dinosaur eggs . Heyuan is in which country? 

Ans : (3)
1. Japan
2. Nepal
3. China
4. Indonesia
5. Malaysia

Explanation: A nest containing 43 dinosaur egg fossils was found in the city in southern China`s Guangdong province. These eggs are large in size and one even has a diameter of 13 cm. All the eggs, which were found on April 2015 have been sent to the museum for further preservation and further research. Nearly 17,000 dinosaur eggs have been found in Heyuan since 1996, when a group of children playing at a building site first came across some fossils. The museum has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records for its collection of 10,008 dinosaur egg fossils, the largest in the world.

 35) Vivek Murthy is the Indian-American who was sworn-in as the US Surgeon General by Vice President Joe Biden at a ceremony held at Fort Myer in ………………… on 23rd Apr`15?

 Ans : (1)
1. Virginia
2. Los angeles
3. Detroit City
4. Kansas City
5. Milwaukee

Explanation: Murthy has become the youngest-ever in-charge of the country`s public health. He is now the highest ranking Indian-American in the Obama Administration.

 36) The foundation stone for the International Centre for performing Arts and Culture was laid at ……………………..recently?

 Ans : (3)
1.Assam
2. Sikkim 
3. Meghalaya
4. Mizoram
5. Manipur

 37) Rajeev Gandhi & Indira Gandhi prime ministers names has been dropped from how many awards which were conferred to people based on outstanding work for promoting the progressive use of Hindi Language?

 Ans : (3)
1.4
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 5

Explanation: According to a Home Ministry order, the `Indira Gandhi RajbhashaPuraskar` and `Rajiv Gandhi RashtriyaGyan-VigyanMaulikPustakLekhanPuraskar`, launched more than two decades ago, have given away for `RajbhashaKirtiPuraskar` and `RajbhashaGauravPuraskar`.

 38) Rajajinational park recognized as the India`s 48th Tiger Reserve by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Where is Rajaji national park in India? Ans : (1)
1. Uttarkhand 
2. Jharkhand
3. Telengana 
4. Andhra Pradesh
5. Arunachal Pradesh

Explanation: The NTCA has accorded final approval to Kudermukh National Park in Karnataka and Rajaji National Park in Uttarkhand for being declared as tiger reserves by respective states.

 39) The 14th Edition of Indo-French naval exercise started with the arrival of four French naval ships at Goa . What is the name of it?

 Ans : (3)
1. AJAY 
2. ARJUN
3. VARUNA
4. SURYAMUKHI 
5.CHANDRAMUKHI

Explanation: The scope of Exercise VARUNA includes the entire gamut of maritime operations from Aircraft Carrier Operations, Anti Submarines Warfare Exercises, Maritime Interdiction Operations to multi-ship replenishment exercise.

 40) 24th April was observed in India as…………….? 

Ans : (1)
1. National Panchayati Raj Day
2. National Sarpanch Day
3. National Assembly Day
4. National Parliament Day
5. National Urban/Rural Day

Explanation: The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24th April, 1993 has vested constitutional status on Panchayati Raj institutions. This date thus marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of political power to the grassroots level.

 41) Who was conferred with Kalashree Award for her contribution to the field of arts and entertainment in Apr`15?

 Ans : (3)
1. HemaMalini
2. Jaya Bachchan
3. Jaya Prada
4. ArunaIrani
5. Sreedevi

Explanation: Kalasree award has been given to the actress by the Dada SahebPhalke Film Foundation. She has acted in over 200 films and also ventured into regional film industry like Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada.

42) 22nd April was observed as…………..? 

Ans : (1)
1. World Earth Day
2. World Jupiter Day
3. World Sun Day
4. World Moon Day
5. World Stars Day

Explanation: Life in its most beautiful forms developed here, be it humans, animals, plants or marine life. The one thing that made Earth unique was the presence of a superb form of intelligent life called the human race. But somewhere on the way the human race lost its humanity, forgot to acknowledge the planet that gave it life; and used its resources ruthlessly. The world now marks the Earth Day to make the human race realise the importance of the Mother Earth. Earth Day is celebrated every year on the 22nd of April

 43) 23rd April was observed as…………….? 

Ans : (3)
1. World Pencil Day
2. World Pen Day
3. World Book Day
4. World handbags Day
5. World Sports Day

Explanation: This day is celebrated because it marks the death anniversary of Miguel De Cervantes and William Shakespeare.

 44) BhalchandraNemade will be awarded with the ………Jnanpith Award on 25th Apr`15 ?

 Ans : (2)
1. 49th
2. 50th 
3. 25th
4. 75th
5. 100th

Explanation: Mr Nemade will receive the country`s highest literary award for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature. His novel, Kosala, written in 1963 was considered as a path breaking in Marathi literature. The award includes 11 lakh rupees and a citation.

 45) The number of HIV positive cases reported in the country in 2011 declined by how much percent as compared in 2000.? 

Ans : (2)
1. 10% 
2. 57%
3. 34%
4. 23%
5. 12%

Explanation: The number the cases reported in 2011 are around 1.16 lakh as compared to 2.74 lakh in 2000.

 46)Recently, Calbuco Volcano in which country erupted for the first time after more than 42 years?

 Ans : (2)
1. China
2. Chile
3. Cambodia
4. Cuba
5. Czech republic

Explanation: Calbuco has had at least 10 eruptions since 1837. One of the largest historical eruptions in southern Chile took place there in 1893–1894.

 47) 25th April was observedas…………….? 

Ans : (3)
1. World Dengue Day
2. World Hepititis Day
3. World Malaria Day
4. World Diarrhoea Day
5. World Cancer Day

Explanation: As per the UNICEF Report, Worldwide more than 1200 children die every day from Malaria. According to the recent report by the World Health Organization, since 2000, Malaria deaths worldwide declined by 47 percent. In Africa alone, Malaria deaths during the period declined by 54 percent.

 48) On which day the Centenary of Ottoman Massacre was observed by Armenians ? 

Ans : (1)
1. 24th April 2015
2. 25th April 2016
3. 23rd April 2014
4. 1st May 2015
5. 2nd May 2015

Explanation: Armenians worldwide are marking the centenary of the massacre of up to 1.5 million of their people by Ottoman forces. On 24th Apr`15, in the capital Yerevan, Armenian President SerzhSarkisian and first lady Rita Sarkisian laid a wreath at a hilltop memorial at the start of a solemn ceremony marking the mass killings that began in 1915.

 49) Recently, Retirement fund body EPFO is to invest how much percent of its corpus in exchange traded funds? 

Ans : (3)
1. 1%
2. 2%
3. 5%
4. 10%41) Who was conferred with Kalashree Award for her contribution to the field of arts and entertainment in Apr`15?

 Ans : (3)
1. HemaMalini
2. Jaya Bachchan
3. Jaya Prada
4. ArunaIrani
5. Sreedevi

Explanation: Kalasree award has been given to the actress by the Dada SahebPhalke Film Foundation. She has acted in over 200 films and also ventured into regional film industry like Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada.

42) 22nd April was observed as…………..? 

Ans : (1)
1. World Earth Day
2. World Jupiter Day
3. World Sun Day
4. World Moon Day
5. World Stars Day

Explanation: Life in its most beautiful forms developed here, be it humans, animals, plants or marine life. The one thing that made Earth unique was the presence of a superb form of intelligent life called the human race. But somewhere on the way the human race lost its humanity, forgot to acknowledge the planet that gave it life; and used its resources ruthlessly. The world now marks the Earth Day to make the human race realise the importance of the Mother Earth. Earth Day is celebrated every year on the 22nd of April

 43) 23rd April was observed as…………….? 

Ans : (3)
1. World Pencil Day
2. World Pen Day
3. World Book Day
4. World handbags Day
5. World Sports Day

Explanation: This day is celebrated because it marks the death anniversary of Miguel De Cervantes and William Shakespeare.

 44) BhalchandraNemade will be awarded with the ………Jnanpith Award on 25th Apr`15 ?

 Ans : (2)
1. 49th
2. 50th 
3. 25th
4. 75th
5. 100th

Explanation: Mr Nemade will receive the country`s highest literary award for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature. His novel, Kosala, written in 1963 was considered as a path breaking in Marathi literature. The award includes 11 lakh rupees and a citation.

 45) The number of HIV positive cases reported in the country in 2011 declined by how much percent as compared in 2000.? 

Ans : (2)
1. 10% 
2. 57%
3. 34%
4. 23%
5. 12%

Explanation: The number the cases reported in 2011 are around 1.16 lakh as compared to 2.74 lakh in 2000.

 46)Recently, Calbuco Volcano in which country erupted for the first time after more than 42 years?

 Ans : (2)
1. China
2. Chile
3. Cambodia
4. Cuba
5. Czech republic

Explanation: Calbuco has had at least 10 eruptions since 1837. One of the largest historical eruptions in southern Chile took place there in 1893–1894.

 47) 25th April was observedas…………….? 

Ans : (3)
1. World Dengue Day
2. World Hepititis Day
3. World Malaria Day
4. World Diarrhoea Day
5. World Cancer Day

Explanation: As per the UNICEF Report, Worldwide more than 1200 children die every day from Malaria. According to the recent report by the World Health Organization, since 2000, Malaria deaths worldwide declined by 47 percent. In Africa alone, Malaria deaths during the period declined by 54 percent.

 48) On which day the Centenary of Ottoman Massacre was observed by Armenians ? 

Ans : (1)
1. 24th April 2015
2. 25th April 2016
3. 23rd April 2014
4. 1st May 2015
5. 2nd May 2015

Explanation: Armenians worldwide are marking the centenary of the massacre of up to 1.5 million of their people by Ottoman forces. On 24th Apr`15, in the capital Yerevan, Armenian President SerzhSarkisian and first lady Rita Sarkisian laid a wreath at a hilltop memorial at the start of a solemn ceremony marking the mass killings that began in 1915.

 49) Recently, Retirement fund body EPFO is to invest how much percent of its corpus in exchange traded
5. 15%

Explanation: It will result into an inflow of around five thousand crore rupees into the stock markets during this fiscal. As per estimates, the EPFO`s incremental deposits for 2014-15 would be around 80 thousand crore rupees.

 50) Recently at which place the epicenter of Earthquake of 7.9 magnitude struck Nepal and India ?

 Ans : (2)
1. Gorakhpur
2. Lamjung
3. Kathmandu
4. Kirtipur
5. None

Explanation: The earthquake occurred around 11.41 hours on 25th Apr`15 with epicenter at Lamjung at distance of 77 km from Nepal capital Kathmandu

1) Jitu Rai wins `Sportsperson of the Year` Award at TOISA.

• Ace marksman Jitu Rai was declared the Sportsperson of the Year` at the Times of India Sports Awards in a glittering ceremony that was graced by the legendary Carl Lewis.
• `Flying Sikh` Milkha Singh received the `Lifetime Achievement Award` from the `Olympian of the century` and Times Group MD Vineet Jain in a ceremony that was attended by the India`s sporting fraternity.
• Besides Lewis and Milkha, prominent figures from the sporting world included former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, Olympic bronze medallists boxer MC Mary Kom, shuttler Saina Nehwal and CWG gold medallist squash player Dipika Pallikal.

1. In the 2014 Asian Games held at Incheon in South Korea, Jitu won the gold medal in the 50 m pistol category. He also won a bronze in the men`s 10 m air pistol team event.

• Sakshi Malik and Lalita bagged bronze medal in Women`s Freestyle 60kg and 55kg categories, respectively, even as Babita Kumari lost out on a third-place finish in 53kg division of the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship in Doha.
• In a total of five rounds in the 60kg category, Sakshi won two of her bouts to claim the third position.
• Lalita was defeated by North Korea`s Han Kum-ok 3-9 in the semifinal but she managed to settle for a bronze medal in the end in her category. 

• Britain’s ace tennis player Andy Murray has won Mutua Madrid Open Men’s Singles Title. In the final match he defeated defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain. This is Andy Murray’s first Mutua Madrid Open title.
• Women’s singles Title:
• Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic has won Mutua Madrid Open Women’s Singles Title. In the final match she defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.

• Rohan Bopanna (India) and Florin Mergea (Romania) pair won the 2015 Mutua Madrid Open Men’s doubles Title. In the final match, they defeated Marcin Matkowski (Poland) and Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia) pair.

• Casey Dellacqua (Australia) and Yaroslava Shvedova (Russia) pair won the 2015 Mutua Madrid Open Women’s doubles Title. In the final match, they defeated Spanish pair Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro.

• Ace Indian discus thrower Vikas Gowda won the Gold medal in the Jamaican International Invitation meet in Kingston.
• He came up with an effort of 65.14 metres to win his event. Chad Wright of Jamaica was second, while Jared Schuurmans of United States was third.
• Another Gold came India’s way at the Sacramento State Open event in the United States. At the Hornet Stadium, national record holder Kamalpreet Singh won the men’s hammer throw event with an effort of 69.61 metres.

5) Vikas Gowda won gold at Jamaican International meet.

• India discus thrower Vikas Gowda has won gold in the Jamaican International Invitation meet held at Kingston.
• Chad Wright of Jamaica came second with an effort of 61.84m while Jared Schuurmans of United States was third with 61.62m.

1. Vikas Gowda is an Indian discus thrower and Shot putter.
2. He is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the 2006 US NCAA National Champion in discus.
3. His personal best throw is 66.90 meters which is also Indian national record in discus throw, achieved in 2013.
4. His best moment came when he clinched the Gold for India in the 2014 Commonwealth Games with a throw of 63.64m, which made him the second Indian man to win athletics gold, 56 years after Milkha Singh, won the men`s 440 yards at the Cardiff 1958 Games.

6) Lee Alan Johnson named Head Coach of U-19 football team of India.

• Lee Alan Johnson of England was named as the Head Coach of Under-19 football team of India. He was named by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
• Besides, 34-year-old Johnson will also act as the Head Scout for the national side and will also perform the role of Assistant Coach of the senior team.
• Prior to this, Johnson was working as the Technical Director of the Football Federation of Rwanda where he was also the Head Coach of the U-17 national team.
• Johnson was also an FA Learning Tutor for the Football Association besides being the academy coach at Crystal Palace Football Club and Chelsea Football Club.

• Tejaswini Sagar from India won under-15 category of World School Chess Championships in her first attempt.
• In the ninth and final round played at Pattaya, Thailand she defeated Kavinya Miyuni Rajapaksa of Sri Lank to win gold medal. In this championship, she scored seven points out of nine by winning six, drawing two and losing one game.
• Irina Barbayeva of Russia won the silver medal in this category. While, the top seed Nur Abidah Shanti of Indonesia won the bronze medal.
• Apart from Tejaswini, Anand Nadar bagged the silver medal in under-15 open category while Saloni Sapole also won the silver in under-17 girls’ section for India in this World School Chess Championship.

1) Isro moots ground station in Vietnam

• The proposal is going to help India receive, process and use data from Indian satellites for a variety of applications including disaster management support
• It can also be used to provide training in space science, technology and applications which will benefit other members of Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) too —Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

• Cabinet also approved signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh on prevention of human trafficking, especially of women and children, and speeding up prosecution. In another decision, government has decided to set up a committee headed by Prime Minister to commemorate Dr. B R Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary. Cabinet also gave its nod for reclassification and up gradation of some cities for granting House Rent and Transport Allowance to central government employees.

3) Cabinet clears signing of pact between India, Sweden on MSMEs

• It provides a structured framework and enabling environment to the MSME sector in the two countries to understand each other`s strengths, markets, technologies and policies. 
• The MoU also contains an agreement to enable respective MSMEs to participate in each other`s trade fairs/exhibitions and to exchange business delegations, to understand policy and explore markets so that joint ventures, tie-ups and technology transfer among others could take place.
• The agreement, however, does not contain or involve any financial, legal or political commitment on the part of either party. In no case does it attract any financial liability on the part of the government. 
• The MSME Ministry has so far entered into long-term agreements for cooperation in the MSME sector with ministries or organisations of 17 countries namely, Tunisia, Romania, Rwanda, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Lesotho, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Sudan, Cote d`lvoire, Egypt, Botswana, South Korea, Mozambique, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mauritius.

• It`s the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia. Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj gifted Prime Minister Narendra Modi The Morin Khuur, traditional Mongolian instrument.
• The Prime Minister also presented President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj a specially commissioned reproduction of a rare 13th century manuscript on the history of Mongols from the Rampur Raza Library, Rampur. The manuscript is a part of Volume 1 of the work and no other copy of it is known to exist. 
• India, Mongolia sign 14 agreements: India and Mongolia on 17th May signed 14 agreements, including an air services agreement and in cyber securit. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mongolian counterpart Chimed Saikhanbileg inked a new bilateral strategic partnership agreement after their talks at the State Palace. Among the 14 agreements is to set up a cyber security training centre in the Mongolian defence ministry, a MoU in the field of new and renewable energy, and for setting up an India-Mongolia Friendship Secondary School in Mongolia. 
• Both sides inked an air services agreement and on the transfer of sentenced prisoners. A separate agreement in the field of traditional systems of medicine and homeopathy was also signed. 
• 1 billion USD credit line to Mongolia: Upgrading India and Mongolia`s relationship from Comprehensive to "Strategic Partnership", Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a credit line of 1 billion US dollars to Mongolia to expand its economic capacity and infrastructure
• Taking the economic partnership to a new level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to support in expansion of Mongolia`s economic capacity and infrastructure.
•  
• Terming Mongolia as an integral part of India`s Act East Policy, Prime Minister Modi said both the countries can work together to help advance peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
•  
• The Prime Minister added that India attaches high importance to Mongolia`s security cooperation and will help in establishing a cyber security centre in Mongolia`s defence and security establishment 
• Radiotherapy machines to cancer hospital: Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over two high-tech machines for the only cancer hospital at Ulan Bator. The indigenous machines have been developed in collaboration with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. The high-tech machines for radiotherapy will also promote the Make in India campaign in Mongolia as only 5 companies worldwide can make such machines.
•  
• Foundation for IT Centre in Ulan Bator: The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of IT Centre at Mongolian University of Science and Technology in the capital Ulan bator
• Ceremony of Naadam Festival: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17th May witnessed the opening ceremony of Naadam Festival. Naadam which means games and it is the biggest event of the Mongolian year. It is being celebrated all over the country. 
• It features the three sports, mainly wrestling, archery and horse racing. The strongest wrestlers, fastest horses and expert marksmen come together to compete for the National title. 
• Modi to Gandan Monastery: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit Mongolia, visited the ancient Gandan Monastery in the Mongolian capital and also presented a sapling of the revered Bodhi tree to the chief abbot of the Buddhist temple. 
• Modi also lighted incense at the monastery, also known as the Gandantegchinlen Monastery. He also went to the Janraisag Monastery, inside the Gandan monastery complex. The Janraisag monastery houses a 26-metre tall statue of Janraisag Buddha. 
• The Gandantegchinlen Monastery was established in 1835 by the Fifth Jebtsundamba, the highest reincarnated lama of Mongolia. 
• The monastery has three colleges of Buddhist philosophy: a medical and astrological college, a Kalachakra temple, a Jud Tantric College and an the Migjid Janraisig temple which houses the Avalokiteshvara statue. 
• Most Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia were destroyed during the communist regime, which lasted until 1990. The only one to survive was the Gandan Monastery.

5) India, South Korea 7 agreements

• Both the countries signed seven pacts to enhance bilateral cooperation. The agreements were signed after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye in Seoul. 
• The two leaders held comprehensive discussions and agreed to further broaden the cooperation between the two nations. 
• Both countries have agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a special strategic partnership and enhance defense ties. 
• The Indian Prime Minister said that the two nations have agreed to enhance the bilateral ties to the level of special strategic relations. 
• The Prime Minister said that India and South Korea have agreed to further boost the participation of South Korean companies under the `Make In India` programme.
•  
• India-Korea trade ties:India and South Korea have a robust economic engagement, and Prime Minister Modi`s visit is set to deepen the partnership between both the countries. 
• Important business meets and signing of agreements will be a part of Prime Minister`s itinerary as significant business in fields of trade, shipping, logistics and new energy is expected to be conducted. 
• India and Korea trade ties hold significance as bilateral trade between both countries currently stands at around 17 billion dollars. 
• Some 400 companies are doing business in India with investments of over 3 billion dollars. The focus is on getting assistance from South Korea for smart cities, Digital India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programmes 
• PM meets UN chief in South Korea
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18th May met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Seoul and discussed key global issues with him 
• Discussed key global issues during the wonderful meeting with @UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon," Narendra Modi tweeted. Ban is a South Korean national. He is set to retire in 2016 after two terms.
• PM at Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the tour of the urban renewal project Cheonggyecheon Stream which was cleaned up and is a model for similar projects around the world. The Prime Minster`s visit to the Stream is considered significant as it comes at a time when government is promoting Swacch Bharat abhiyan and Clean Ganga campaigns 

1. Government of India plans to build 50 million houses by 2022 as also build Smart Cities, industrial corridors and mega investment regions which provide immense investment opportunities for South Korean business and industry.
2. India invited the Korean companies to invest in India in the Railways, sea ports and shipbuilding, housing, power and infrastructure sectors among others.
3. PM also said that Indian government is committed to cleaner and greener development in the country for which ‘Zero defect, Zero Effect’ approach to manufacturing has been adopted.
4. In the sixth Asian Leadership Forum, Prime Minister called for an inclusive international economic growth and collective efforts by Asian countries for a faster growth. In a reference to climate change, the Prime Minister said, we need to change our lifestyles. He called upon Asian countries to work together for cleaner technologies.
5. In South Korea the two countries signed revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and agreed to renegotiate the India Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). A development package of 10 billion US dollars under export credit and development fund for infrastructure including smart cities, railways and power sectors was also announced by the South Korean government as an outcome of the visit.
6. On the international front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a call for an inclusive international economic growth and collective efforts by Asian countries for a faster growth. He called upon Asian countries to work together for cleaner technologies.

• Both sides also agreed to set up a Sub-Committee on Science & Technology and promote cooperation in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Swaraj and Mashabane also discussed regional and multilateral issues including BRICS, IBSA, IORA, counter-terrorism, cyber security, reforms of multilateral institutions, especially the United Nations Security Council.

1) C.N.R. Rao conferred with Japan`s highest civilian award.

• The Emperor of Japan (Akihito) has conferred the highest Civilian Award, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, to Professor C.N.R. Rao.
  
• He was bestowed with this award for his outstanding contributions to science and Indo-Japanese science cooperation.
  
• About C.N.R. Rao(Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao ):
  
•  Born: June 30
  
•  Professor Rao is a National Research Professor, Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru.
  
•  He had been bestowed with about 70 honorary doctorates and had received the highest civilian award of India, Bharat Ratna.
  

2) President Pranab Mukherjee honours talent at 62nd National Film Award.

•  President Pranab Mukherjee presented the 62nd National Film Awards at a glittering ceremony here studded with talent representing the diversity of the Indian film industry.
  
•  A special film on Shashi Kapoor was also shown on the occasion, where Pallavi Joshi and Rajat Kapoor played the hosts.
  
•  45 awards in Feature Film category and a total of 21 awards in the Non-Feature film category were presented.

1. Best Actress: kangana Ranaut for Queen.
   
2.  Best actor: Vijay Kumar for Kannada film "Nanu Avanalla Avalu".
   
3.  Dadasaheb Phalke award: Shri Sashi Kapoor.
   
4.  Best Popular Film : Mary Kom.
   
5.  Best Children`s Film: Tie between Marathi entertainer "Elizabeth Ekadashi" and Tamil movie "Kaakkaa Muttai".
   
6.  Best Feature film: Marathi Film Court.
   
7.  Best Director: Srijit Mukherji For Bengali Film Chotushkone.

3) Syrian journalist Mazen Darwish Honoured with UNESCO/ Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

• The UN`s cultural body awarded its annual press freedom prize to Mazen Darwish, a Syrian journalist and rights activist.
  
• Mazen Darwish was bestowed with this award by the UN’s Cultural body for recognition of his work carried out in Syria for more than 10 years at great personal sacrifice, harassment, enduring a travel ban, as well as repeated detention and torture.
  
• Presently he has been detained since February 2012, when he was arrested with colleagues Hani Al-Zitani and Hussein Ghareer by the Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
  

4) West Bengal`s Nadia district gets UN Public Service Award.

• Nadia district in West Bengal has won the 2015 United Nations Public Service Award in the category of improving delivery of public services for the initiative ‘Sabar Shouchagar’.
  
• Nadia district is the first open defecation free district in country. The district had achieved this feat by making toilets available for all under state governments flagship programme Sabar Shouchagar.
  
• Nadia has become the winner of this global award from our entire country through a tough competition with multiple entries from 187 countries.
  
• The Award would be handed over by the UN Secretary General on June 23, 2015 in Medellin, Republic of Colombia.

5) Charlie Hebdo awarded 2015 PEN Freedom of Expression Courage award.

• French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was awarded the 2015 Freedom of Expression Courage Award at a star-studded gala at the American Museum of Natural History.
• The satirical magazine was recognized for this award by PEN American Centre as 12 of its staff members had died during January 2015 terrorist attack on its Paris based office.

About Charlie Hebdo:

1. Charlie Hebdo is a weekly French satirical news magazine.
   
2.  Established: 1970.
   
3.  Ceased publication: 1981.
   
4.  Relaunched: 1992.
   
5.  Headquarters: Paris, France.

1) Astra missiles test-fired successfully

• Astra was successfully launched from Su-30 MKI fighter jet in two developmental trials conducted at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha on 20th May.
• In the first trial, the supersonic missile was released when the fighter jet was performing a “very high-g manoeuvre.” In the second trial, the g manoeuvre was higher than in the first exercise.
• The extreme conditions were simulated for the missile’s launch in both trials when it was released at very low and very high altitudes. DRDO scientists plan to conduct another trial on Thursday to prove the long range capability of the missile
• With these tests, seven developmental trials were conducted and the missile is expected to be inducted by 2016 after a few more tests. The 3.8-metre tall Astra is a radar homing missile and one of the smallest weapon systems developed by the DRDO.

2) India on 6th position in terms of scientific publications

• India has reached sixth position in terms of scientific publications. Department of Science and Technology 21st May said that India elevated from tenth to sixth position in terms of publishing scientific research papers in different journals.

3) Everest glaciers may disappear by 2100: Study

• Scientists on 27th May warned that glaciers in the Everest region of the Himalayas can shrink at least 70 per cent or even disappear entirely by the end of the century if greenhouse-gas emissions continue to rise. A team of researchers in Nepal, France and the Netherlands have found that the Everest glaciers can be very sensitive to future warming. They have predicted that sustained ice loss through the 21st century is likely. The signal of future glacier change in the region is clear. The glacier model used by Shea and his team shows that glacier volume could be reduced between 70 per cent and 99 percent by 2100.

1) First meeting of Sub-Group of CMs on Swachh Bharat Mission held in New Delhi.

• The first meeting of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was held at NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
• The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu who is the convener of the sub group.

1. It discussed robust institutional mechanisms for effective implementation of the mission.
2. It prepared guidelines and process chart to work on the subject.
3. It decided to recommend measures for technological support, including solid waste management in rural and urban areas.
4. It decided to constitute a working group headed by NITI Aayog’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to study the best practices showing alternative methods and best technology.
5. It examined the need of sending some members to other countries to study sanitation practices.
6. Technologies from other countries would also be imported and modified to suit the country’s requirements.

• The Union Ministry of Tourism released the Draft National Tourism Policy 2015 after re-visiting National Tourism Policy 2002. The policy is aimed at boosting tourism sector in the country.
• Its objective is to increase India’s share in world tourist arrivals from the present 0.68% to 1% by 2020 and increase to 2% by 2025 and position tourism as a priority on the National political and economic agenda.

• Focus is on job creation and community participation in tourism development.
• Tourism to be developed in a manner which is responsible and sustainable.
• Comprehensive policy involving linkages with ministries, departments, states/UTs and stakeholders.
• Policy focusses on development and positioning of India as a Must Experience and Must Re-visit Tourist Destination.
• Policy aims for National Tourism Advisory Board under the Union Tourism Minister and members including Tourism Ministers of States/UTs as well as domain experts.
• Setting up of National Tourism Authority with trade and industry representation and interconnected departments/agencies for policy execution by Ministry.

1. Swachhta
2. Surkasha
3. Swagat

1. Air
2. Road
3. Rail
4. Water Way
5. Buddhist Circuit
6. Prasad
7. Swadesh Darshan
8. Skill development and technology enabled 
9. development across tourism sectors

• Online programmes for training international tour operators for creating India Specialists.
• Active and decisive role for India in multilateral tourism fora through BRIC, SAARC, ASEAN, IBSA and others.

• [Nitin Gadkari ] Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari dedicated Shillong Bypass Highway Project and four lane Jorabat-Barapani Section of NH-40 to the nation in Shillong, Meghalaya.
• The two projects are intended to improve connectivity between Guwahati and Shillong and other parts of the North East.
• The 48.76 Km Shillong Bypass was constructed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) mode and connects National Highway (NH) 40 and NH 44 (New NH 6). This will help decongest the traffic in the city of Shillong from trucks and heavy vehicles coming from or moving towards North Eastern parts of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura.
• Four laning of 61.80 km Jorabat-Barapani section is intended to augment connectivity between Guwahati and Shillong. The project was constructed by the NHAI on Design Build Finance Operate & Transfer (DBFOT) Mode on annuity basis.

• Union Government has finally recognised motorsports as a sport in India.
• In this regard, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has included Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) in the list of sports backed National Sports Federations (NSF).
• FMSCI is the governing body of motorsports in India and the motors sports was put into ‘Others’ category of NSF list which means that no financial assistance will be provided to it.
• With this inclusion, Motor Sports is now one of the 59 sports recognised by the Sports Ministry under NSF list which are categorized into various sports discipline such as High Priority, Priority and Others.
• At present 9 sports disciplines are included in High Priority category. They are Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Wrestling, Shooting, Tennis, Weight Lifting and Hockey.
• While, 23 sports disciplines included in Priority category and rest 27 were included into others category.
• It should be noted that after each Olympics Games and Asian Games Union Sports Ministry reviews and categorise various sports discipline with respect to their performances. The categorization is done in order to review and provide financial assistance to the NSF. In 2008, such last review was done.

5) 14th Edition of Indo-French Naval Exercise VARUNA 2015 concluded.

• The Fourteenth edition of the Indo-French naval exercise VARUNA 2015 concluded. The exercise started on 23 April 2015 off the Goa Coast.
• Its aim was deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of the two navies. The experience gained through such exercises helps in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the fields of Joint Maritime Air Operations planning with exchange of Carrier Operational Capabilities.
• The exercise included both a harbor and sea phase and its mandate was to cover the entire gamut of maritime operations ranging from Aircraft Carrier Operations, Anti Submarines Warfare Exercises, Maritime Interdiction Operations and multi-ship replenishment exercise.

1. Relations between India and France have traditionally been close and friendly. With the establishment of strategic partnership in 1998, there has been significant progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation and exchanges including naval exercises.
2. The Indian Navy and the French Navy have been conducting naval exercises since 1983 and following the establishment of a strategic partnership, these exercises were christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001.Till date, fourteen such exercises have been conducted.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch three social security schemes relating to insurance and pension for the poor on May 9, a day after the Lok Sabha adjourns.
• The party plans to counter that with its information campaign. All Ministries have been asked to make use of the radio and television channels of the public broadcaster Prasar Bharti to spread its message.
• The CPI (M) launched a Twitter campaign against the government’s land acquisition Bill and followed it up with a bandh in Jharkhand.

• Under National Health Mission (NHM), the provision of health care to children particularly in rural areas is given priority attention.

1. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery including Caesarean section.
2. Facility Based Newborn Care (FBNC) at different levels to reduce child morbidity and mortality.
3. Home based newborn care through ASHAs has been initiated to improve newborn practices at the community level and early detection and referral of sick newborn babies.
4. India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) has been launched with an aim to reduce neonatal mortality and stillbirths.
5. Integrated Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (IAPPD) launched in four states with highest child mortality (UP, MP, Bihar and Rajasthan).
6. Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) are organized for imparting nutritional counselling to mothers and to improve child care practices.
7. Minister of Health and Family Welfare: Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha M.P. from Himachal Pradesh)

8) Cabinet clears bill on Land Boundary Agreement between India, Bangladesh.

• The Union Cabinet approved Constitution 119th Amendment Bill on the land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh.
• With the agreement between India and Bangladesh, India and Bangladesh will exchange several enclaves which are under each other`s adverse possession. The agreement has to be ratified by Parliament through a constitution amendment bill.
• The bill was placed in the Rajya Sabha in 2013 and subsequently referred to a select committee, headed by Shashi Tharoor of Congress, which unanimously recommended implementation of the deal.

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to allow the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as an eligible financial instrument/ structure under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999.
• Entities registered and regulated under the SEBI (REITs) Regulations 2014 will be able to access foreign investments which as of now are prohibited under the FEMA Regulations.
• The intent of introducing the instrumentality of REITs is to reduce pressure on the banking system to which the real estate sector looks for funds, free up existing funds of Banks and to encourage construction activities. 

1. The Finance Minister in his Budget 2014-15 Speech proposed the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which have been successfully used as an instrument for pooling of investment by several countries for investments in the real estate.
2. The instrument with a view to earning income and distributing earnings from its investments to investors, who have contributed to the pooled corpus. 

• The Government of India has announced a new Foreign Trade Policy for the period 2015-2020.
• The important measures taken by the Government in the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 to include `Make in India` and `Digital India` programmes to ease the trade are
• Specific Export Obligation under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme, in casecapital goods are procured from indigenous manufacturers, has been reduced to 75% of thenormal export obligation, in   order to promote domestic capital goods manufacturing industry.
• Under   Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), export items with high domestic content and value addition have generally been provided higher   level of   rewards.
• For reward schemes and duty exemption schemes, hard copies of applications and specified documents which were required to be submitted earlier have now been dispensed with.
• There will be no need to submit copies of permanent records/ documents repeatedly    with    each application, once the same are uploaded in Exporter/ Importer Profile.
• For faster and paperless communication with various Committees of DGFT, dedicated  e-mail addresses have been provided for various Committees, e.g. Norms Committees, Exim Facilitation Committee etc.
• The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 introduces two new schemes, namely, ‘Merchandise Exports from India Scheme` (MEIS) for incentivising export of specified goods to specified markets and ‘Services Exports from India Scheme’ (SEIS) for increasing exports of notified services from India.
• The scrips can be used for payment of customs duty, excise duty and service tax. All duty credit scrips issued under both the schemes and the goods imported against these scrips are fully transferable.

• Various Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed by Indian industries with Germany recently during Hannover Messe 2015
• These MoUs are expected to increase FDI flows to India, bring in new technology, help growth of manufacturing sector and create employment opportunities in the country thereby boosting its economy. 

1. Instrumentation Limited with KE Kauer Engineering, Germany for production of control valves. 
2. Vikram Solar with Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.
3. Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) with FT Machine Tools, Germany for collaborating on flow forming machines. 
4. HMT with Enit GmbH, Germany for total Engineering Solutions. 
5. Essel Group with Wind and Sun Technology Group/ FeCon GmbH to develop 12500 MW of Solar and 4000 MW of Wind Energy Projects in India. 
6. Essel Group with with Passavant Energy and Environment (PE&E) for water and waste water treatment projects. 
7. Essel Group with Fichtner GmbH & Co to provide comprehensive interdisciplinary range of engineering and consultancy services in areas of energy, water, sanitation, infrastructure, IT and consultancy on the implementation. 
8. iPLON with Welspun Renewables in the area of Green Energy Commitment. 

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for building of the GSAT-18. This is a communication satellite, weighing about 3425 Kg, for providing replacement capacity.
• The GSAT-18 spacecraft project will require a total budget of Rs. 1022 crore including launch services. All heritage proven bus system will be used to build the satellite in 30 months period. The satellite structure will be similar to the GSAT-10 satellite. 
• The GSAT-18 spacecraft will provide replacement capacity supporting the existing television, telecommunication, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and VSAT services in the country. 
• The GSAT-18 spacecraft will also augment and support the existing telecommunication, television, DSNG and VSAT services in the country.

1. The proposal to build the GSAT-18 is part of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) efforts towards protecting services of existing users. 

• The parliament of India has passed the 119th constitutional amendment bill 2013, which now after the assent of the President will enter in to the statue book [as Constitution 100th Amendment Act 2015].
• The 119th Constitution Amendment) Bill, 2013 was unanimously passed by the upper house, with 180 votes in favour and zero against it.
• The Bill is to operationalise the Land Boundary Agreement with India and Bangladesh, and the exchange of certain enclaves of land between the two countries.
• The Bill was earlier passed by the Union Cabinet and now includes territories in Assam along with those in West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya.
• Now, the Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha and it will then be sent for President`s signature.
• As it is the Constitutional Amendment Bill, It would require ratification of at least 50 per cent of the state legislatures before it comes into effect.
• The bill’s passage will lead to an amendment in the first schedule of the Constitution and give effect to a May 1974 agreement between India and Bangladesh on acquisition and transfer of territories.

1. The 119th constitutional amendment bill 2013 sought to ratify the land boundary agreement between the two countries. This amendment needed special majority in the parliament to get passed. The bill proposed to amend the 1st schedule of the constitution to exchange the disputed territories occupied by both the nations in accordance with the 1974 bilateral LBA.

1. The LBA envisages a notional transfer of 111 Indian enclaves to Bangladesh in return of 51 enclaves to India. The area transferred to India is less than that transferred by India to Bangladesh.
2. In totality India incurs a net loss in terms of area occupancy. This remained a major concern of opposition from the north-eastern affected states and west Bengal. Also, most of the area concerned is occupied by the tribal’s of the NE states and hence the swapping takes away their land rights leaving them more vulnerable.

• Lok Sabha passed Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill 2014. The Bill clearly defines and classifies offences as petty, serious and heinous, and defines differentiated processes for each category.
• The amendment bill has introduced a new provision that disallows the protection from disqualification in cases where a juvenile is tried and convicted under the adult system.
• The bill will allow children in the 16-18 age group to be tried as adults if they commit heinous crimes.
• The bill will replace the existing Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. The bill states that in case a heinous crime has been committed by a person in the age group of 16-18 years it will be examined by a Juvenile Justice Board to assess if the crime was committed as a child or as an adult.
• The Bill also seeks to consolidate and amend the law related to children alleged and found to be in conflict with law and children needing care and protection.
• It also has provision for the establishment of Child Welfare Committees (CWC) in each district. The CWC will determine institutional care for juvenile in need of care and protection.

• The Union Cabinet has approved amendments in the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 to keep issues of national security out of its purview.
• Decision in this regard was taken at Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The amendments accepted by the Union Cabinet to the parent Act are done with a view to incorporate necessary provisions that aim at strengthening safeguards against disclosures.
• The amendment in the parent Act will strengthen the safeguards against disclosures which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of the country and security of the state.
• It also safeguards against disclosures which may affect strategic, scientific or economic interest of the state, relations with a foreign state or that leads to incitement of an offence.

1. It establishes a mechanism to investigate alleged cases and register complaints on any allegations of corruption or willful misuse of power against a public servant.
2. The Act also provides safeguards against victimization of the person who makes the complaint and gives statutory protection to whistle blowers in the country.

• The Union Ministry for Social Justice & Empowerment on launched the Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes. The scheme is being implemented by Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) Ltd.
• A sum of 200 crore rupees was allocated towards Credit Enhancement Guarantee scheme for young and start-up entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) to avail financial assistance. This allocation was made under Social Sector Initiatives to promote entrepreneurship among SCs.
• The main objective of this scheme is to encourage entrepreneurship in the lower strata of the Society resulting in job creation besides creating confidence in Scheduled Castes.
• Moreover, the Ministry also inaugurated the Commercial Motor Driving Training Programme with Self Defense Skills for 250 women organized by National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC).

1) Iran agrees to grant UN inspectors "managed access" to military sites

• Iran has agreed to grant United Nations inspectors "managed access" to military sites as part of a future deal over its contested nuclear program
• Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi`s comments,carried by state television, came after he and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attended a closed session of parliament. Lawmaker Ahmad Shoohani, a member of parliament`s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee who attended the closed-door session, said restricted inspections of military sites will be carried out under strict control and specific circumstances.
• Iran and six world powers the US, Russia, China, Britain,France and Germany hope to work out terms of a final nuclear deal before a June 30 deadline. Inspection of military sites suspected to be taking part in the nuclear program is a top priority of the US.

• Iran on 28th May warned global powers against making excessive demands in talks aimed at sealing a ground-breaking nuclear deal, after France demanded access to its military installations. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in Geneva after weeks of behind-the-scenes complex technical discussions in Vienna seeking to narrow the gaps on what would be an unprecedented deal on curtailing Iran`s nuclear programme. The negotiators are working towards a proposed June 30 deadline for agreement.

3) UN conference on prevention of proliferation of nuclear weapons ends in failure

• A United Nations conference aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons has ended in failure after a row over a nuclear-free Middle East proposal. The Egypt-backed plan had envisaged a regional forum, which analysts say might have forced Israel to reveal whether or not it has nuclear weapons. The proposal was blocked by the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The next review is set for 2020. Israel neither confirms nor denies it has a stockpile of nuclear weapons.

• Current Affirs China has set up a gold sector fund involving countries along the ancient Silk Road which is expected to raise $16.1 billion. The fund, led by Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE), is expected to raise an estimated 100 billion yuan ($16.1 billion) in three phases, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. It is said to be the “largest fund” set up by China.

 5) Earth quake in Tokyo

• An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 shook Tokyo and surrounding areas on 25th May, but no tsunami warning was issued. The quake was centered in Ibaraki prefecture just northeast of the Japanese capital. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, and no reports of abnormalities at any nuclear facilities. The US Geological Survey measured the quake at 5.3 magnitude.
• The tremor shook buildings in Tokyo and briefly halted some train lines, including the Tokyo Metro subway lines. Narita airport closed both runways for checks shortly after the quake, but the capital`s Haneda airport was operating as normal. On March 11, 2011, Japan - one of the world`s most seismically active nations - was hit with a massive earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 20,000 people dead and set off meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.

• Iraqi government forces have formally launched an operation to drive Islamic State (IS) out of Anbar province. The announcement was made for the Popular Mobilisation. The operation would see troops and militiamen move southwards from Salahuddin province and seek to cut off IS militants in Ramadi. The provincial capital fell to IS this month after Iraq`s army withdrew. Since then government forces have been massing for a counter-attack, and they say they have regained some ground east of Ramadi in the past few days.

<p>&nbsp;<strong>1)&nbsp;&nbsp; Saudi Arabia country`s Ambassador summoned by which country government to protest against the execution of that country domestic worker</strong><br /> <br /> &nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Ans : (2)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Iran<br /> 2. Indonesia<br /> 3. Malaysia<br /> 4. Zambia<br /> 5. Norway </p> <p><br /> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);">Explanation:&nbsp; </span></strong>Siti Zainab was beheaded on 14th Apr`15 in Medina after being convicted of stabbing and beating to death her employer, Noura al-Morobei, in 1999.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>2)&nbsp;&nbsp; Which country filed a complaint against Google company over its alleged anti-competitive behavior?<br /> </strong><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>&nbsp;Ans : (3)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Iran<br /> 2. Indonesia<br /> 3. European union<br /> 4. Ukraine<br /> 5. Syria<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; The Competition Commissioner said she had issued a statement of objection, stating that the firm`s promotion of its own shopping links amounted to an abuse of its dominance in search.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>3)&nbsp;&nbsp; Meenakshi Madan rai sworn in as the first lady judge of which High Court on 15th Apr`15?</strong><br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>&nbsp;Ans : (1)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Sikkim<br /> 2. Tripura<br /> 3. Telengana <br /> 4. Andhra Pradesh<br /> 5. Arunachal pradesh<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:&nbsp; </strong></span>Mrs. Rai is also the third High Court judge who hails from this small border state. With Mrs. Rai taking over as judge on15th Apr`15 the Sikkim High Court has once again got its full strength of three judges after a gap of about one year.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>4)&nbsp;&nbsp; Among the following identify , Which state`s Chief Minister opposed any move of divestment of public sector undertaking (PSU) National Aluminium Company (NALCO) by the Centre?<br /> </strong><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>&nbsp; Ans : (1)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Odisha<br /> 2. Bihar<br /> 3. West Bengal <br /> 4. Uttar Pradesh <br /> 5. Gujarath<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; Presently, the Centre holds 87.15 per cent stake in NALCO, which has plants in Odisha`s Damanjodi and Angul. Chief Minister of Odisha and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, Naveen Patnaik,on 15th Apr`15 opposed any move of divestment of public sector undertaking (PSU) National Aluminium Company (NALCO) by the Centre. He said that there is no need of any disinvestment from NALCO, as the company has been making profits for long.<br /> <br /> <strong>6)&nbsp;&nbsp; Which country`s annual economic growth has recorded a six year low of 7.0 per cent in the first three month of 2015?</strong><br /> <br /> &nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Ans : (4)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Japan <br /> 2. USA<br /> 3. India<br /> 4. China<br /> 5. Nepal<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; The National Bureau of Statistics said in the last quarter of 2014, China`s economy grew by 7.3 per cent on an annual basis. On a quarterly basis, economic growth slowed to 1.3 per cent between January and March after seasonal adjustments.<br /> <br /> <strong>6) Canada has to supply Uranium to which country for its civil nuclear plants for next 5 years?<br /> </strong><br /> &nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Ans : (2)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. China<br /> 2. India<br /> 3. Japan<br /> 4. Pakistan<br /> 5. Bangladesh<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; The supply will start from 2015, highly placed sources said. Canada is the third country to supply uranium to India after Russia and Kazakhstan. The supplies will be under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Canada used to supply Uranium to India prior to 1970, but stopped it after Pokhran nuclear tests.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>7)&nbsp;&nbsp; Which country is at the bottom of eight economies in South Asia?</strong><br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>&nbsp;Ans : (1)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Pakistan<br /> 2. Myanmar<br /> 3. Nepal<br /> 4. China<br /> 5. Srilanka<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; As per the World bank Report 2015, Pakistan stands at the bottom of eight economies in South Asia. The Spring 2015 edition of the World Bank`s South Asia Economic Focus states that the growth recovery is underway in Pakistan but this year it will only show moderate growth. According to the report Pakistan`s economy is set to grow by 4.4 per cent in current fiscal year.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>8) Cleartrip company advocated the Net neutrality by exiting Facebook`s Internet.org programme, after which one? </strong><br /> <br /> <strong>Ans : (2)</strong></p> <p><br /> 1. Snap deal.com<br /> 2. Flipkart<br /> 3. Amazon<br /> 4. Olx.in<br /> 5. None<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; Flipkart, is an E-Commerce company founded in 2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. It is registered in Singapore and it operates in India, where it is headquartered in Bangalore, Karnataka. Flipkart has launched its own product range under the name &quot;DigiFlip&quot; with products including tablets, USBs, and laptop bags.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>9) In which country , the Wholesale price index based inflation fell to a record low of minus 2.33per cent in March`15 on account of cheaper food and fuel products as well as manufactured items.?<br /> </strong><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">&nbsp;<strong>Ans : (2)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1.Pakistan<br /> 2. India<br /> 3. Bangladesh<br /> 4. China<br /> 5. japan<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span><strong>&nbsp; </strong>Inflation measured on Wholesale Price Index, WPI, was at minus 2.06 per cent in February and minus 0.39 per cent in January. It was at 6 per cent in March 2014. Deflation was also visible in the manufactured products category where the rate of price rise dropped to a record low of minus 0.19 per cent.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>10) Sachin Tendulkar on 15th Apr`15 inducted into the prestigious Laureus Sports Academy as one of the how many new members in Shanghai?</strong><br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>&nbsp;Ans : (3)</strong></span></p> <p>1. 2<br /> 2. 4<br /> 3. 5<br /> 4. 6<br /> 5. 10<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; Besides Tendulkar, retired Chinese professional basketball player Yao Ming, Kenyan long-distance runner Tegla Loroupe, Chinese gymnast Li Xiaopeng and former Chinese short track speed skater Yang Yang were the other athletes to be inducted into the Laureus academy.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>11) The position of India according to the latest ICC ODI rankings released in the third week of April`15 is &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;..?</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>&nbsp;Ans : (2)</strong></p> <p><br /> 1.First<br /> 2.Second<br /> 3.Third<br /> 4. Fifth <br /> 5.Sixth<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:&nbsp;</strong></span> The Indian team retained its second position in the ODIs after finishing as semifinalists in the recently-concluded ICC Cricket World Cup. With 116 points, India are placed just six points behind world champions Australia. India is followed by South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, Pakistan. Meanwhile, three Indian batsmen -- Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni figure in the top 10 for ODI batsmen.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>12)&nbsp; Name the state government that has launched the third phase of Mass Deworming Programme for school and pre-school age children recently?</strong><br /> <br /> &nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Ans : (4)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Uttar Pradesh<br /> 2. Maharashtra<br /> 3. Rajasthan<br /> 4. Delhi<br /> 5. Uttarkhand<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; The programme is expected to cover 35 lakh children of government schools and Anganwadis. A chewable Albendazole tablet will be administered to the students from Class 3rd to class 12th and suspension Albendazole for class Nursery students.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>13) United states president wrote the article on which country`s Prime minister in Time Magazine and calls him &lsquo;India`s Reformer-in-Chief`?<br /> </strong><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Ans : (2)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1.China <br /> 2. India<br /> 3. Nepal<br /> 4. Bangladesh<br /> 5.Japan<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong>&nbsp;</span> In his article, US president said that Mr Modi, laid out an ambitious vision to reduce extreme poverty, improve education, empower women and girls and unleash India`s true economic potential while confronting climate change. Mr Obama also describes, Mr Modi as the leader of the world`s largest democracy, and writes that his life story from poverty to Prime Minister reflects the dynamism and potential of India`s rise.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>14) Agni-III Missile successfully test-fired from which Coast on 16th Apr`15?</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>&nbsp;</strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Ans : (3)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. Visakhapatnam<br /> 2. Kakinada <br /> 3. Odisha<br /> 4. Thiruvananthapuram<br /> 5. None <br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:&nbsp; </strong></span>It is a Nuclear Missile and Surface to Surface Missile. Agni-III has a length of 17 metres and launch weight of around 48 tonnes. Agni-II has already been inducted in the armed forces since June 2011. The 3,000 km range indigenously developed surface-to-Surface missile, protected by a carbon all-composite heat shield, blasted off at 9.55 in morning from a mobile launcher at Integrated Test Range in Wheeler Island of Dhamra.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>15) 17th April was observed as &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;..? </strong><br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Ans : (3)</strong></span></p> <p><br /> 1. World Hepititis eradication Day <br /> 2. World Hemoglobin Day <br /> 3. World Hemophilia Day <br /> 4. World Hello Day <br /> 5. World HIV eradication Day <br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Explanation:</strong></span>&nbsp; World Hemophilia Day provided an opportunity to talk to your extended family and friends, colleagues, and caregivers to raise awareness and increase support for those living with an inherited bleeding disorder.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p>

<p>16)In the United States, which City Council approved a monument recognising the contributions of slaves to the city`s founding and economy. ? Ans : (2)<br /> <br /> 1. Washington<br /> 2. New York<br /> 3. Kensas city<br /> 4. Bostan<br /> 5. Milwaukee<br /> <br /> Explanation: According to Columbia University, when the council approved the market in 1711, almost 1,000 of the city`s 6,400 people were black. The monument is expected to be unveiled this summer. The new marker will join 38 other markers, mostly commemorating success in the financial and construction industries in lower Manhattan.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;17) HDFC bank will become the &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip; from India to have its mobile banking application available on the Apple Watch? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. Third <br /> 2. second<br /> 3. first<br /> 4. Fourth<br /> 5. Tenth<br /> <br /> Explanation: Mobile Application titled WatchBanking, the move makes HDFC the first bank, and also the first Indian company to launch an app for the Apple Watch, due to launch in India later this month.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;18) B.N. Navalawala has been appointed as the Chairman of the Task-Force on Interlinking of &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;..constituted recently?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Lakes<br /> 2. Rivers<br /> 3. Seas<br /> 4. Oceans<br /> 5. Swimming pools <br /> <br /> Explanation: He is an internationally renowned water-resources expert with specialization in planning, design and execution of multipurpose water resources projects, flood management and economic planning &amp; financial management of water resources.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> 19) Who among the following is the player named as the Laureus Sportsman of the Year at the Laureaus Sports Award on 15th Apr`15?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Christiano Ronaldo<br /> 2. Novak Djokovic<br /> 3. Rory Mcllroy<br /> 4. Rafael Nadal<br /> 5. None <br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> Explanation: Djokovic came out among the fellow nominees- Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese and Real Madrid footballer, and Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;20) Allan Donald is the Bowling Coach of which country who resigned during Apr`15? <br /> <br /> Ans : (1)<br /> 1. South Africa <br /> 2. Zimbabwe<br /> 3. Australia<br /> 4. New Zealand<br /> 5. UAE<br /> <br /> Explanation: His four year tenure has ended as the coach of the team. Allan Donald retired from cricket in 2004.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;21) Recently, Stephen Harper presented ancient Indian sculpture to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Sculpture is known as &ldquo;Parrot lady&rdquo;. Stephen Harper is the prime minister of which country? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. New Zealand<br /> 2. Nepal<br /> 3. Canada<br /> 4. Bhutan<br /> 5. Indonesia<br /> <br /> Explanation: The sculpture of Parrot Lady was found in Canada in 2011 when it was seized under the Cultural Property Export and Import law from a person who did not have proper documentation. Parrot Lady is a life-sized, sandstone sculpture and is said to be around 900 year old. The sculpture of a Naayika or Heroine has a parrot on her back. It was carved for placement in one of the Khajuraho temples that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Madhya Pradesh.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;22) To probe IPL-6 spot fixing, Supreme Court appointed whom to head a new investigating team? <br /> <br /> Ans : (1)<br /> 1. Vivek Priyadarshi<br /> 2. Viveka mishra<br /> 3. Vikram Kumar <br /> 4. Viven Piyush<br /> 5. Viroop Kumar <br /> <br /> Explanation: Vviek Priyadarshi will replace B B Mishra as the head of the probe team following his retirement. Earlier, he was recommended by the apex court appointed three-member committee of retired judges headed by former Chief Justice of India R M Lodha. The committee has been entrusted the job of further investigating the IPL-6 scandal.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;23)Masarat Alam is the separatist leader arrested in connection with the raising of which country flags during a rally at Srinagar on 15th Apr`15?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (4)<br /> 1. Bangladesh<br /> 2. Nepal<br /> 3. Srilanka<br /> 4. Pakistan<br /> 5. None<br /> <br /> Explanation: He has been arrested in the case registered in police station Budgam in connection with the provocative actions during the said rally. The arrest comes hours ahead of Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani`s call for a march to Tral area of Pulwama district where a youth was allegedly killed in a cross firing incident between the army and militants. Almost all separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have been put under house arrest, in view of the Tral March Call.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;24) On 18th Apr 2015,the President, Pranab Mukherjee, inaugurated centenary celebrations of which High Court?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (3)<br /> 1. Telengana<br /> 2. Andhra Pradesh<br /> 3. Patna<br /> 4. Bihar<br /> 5. Gujarath <br /> <br /> Explanation: The foundation stone of the High Court was laid by then Viceroy of India Sir Charles Harding in 1912 and completed in 1916.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;25) V. saritha is the the women inducted as the first women driver of which state/UT Transport Corporation ?<br /> <br /> Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Goa <br /> 2. Delhi<br /> 3. Puducherry<br /> 4. Telengana<br /> 5. Andhra Pradesh<br /> <br /> Explanation: Malajkhand Expansion Project will be largest underground base metal mine of the country. whose foundation stone is laid on 12th April`15 by the Union Minister for Mines and Steel . Five lakh ton iron ore will be extracted every year from the mine.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> 26)After 10 years Air Canada will resume direct flights between Toronto and which city from coming winter season in 2015? <br /> <br /> Ans : (4)<br /> 1.Kerala<br /> 2. Uttar Pradesh<br /> 3. Punjab<br /> 4. Delhi<br /> 5. Mumbai<br /> <br /> Explanation: Air Canada had announced that it will begin non-stop service from Toronto to Delhi from November 1, with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Air Canada had halted flights on the Toronto-Delhi route in 2005 as the service had become a poor financial performer in the airline`s global network.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;27)Which cricket stadium in India became the first cricket venue in the country to have a roof top solar power plant? <br /> <br /> Ans : (1)<br /> 1. Chinnaswamy Stadium <br /> 2. FirozShah Kotla Stadium<br /> 3. Eden Garden Stadium<br /> 4. Wankhede Stadium<br /> 5. Eden gardens stadium <br /> <br /> Explanation: The roof top installation by Karnataka State Cricket Association is a novel initiative executed for the first time at any stadium in the country and probably also the first cricket stadium in the world to have such facility.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;28) As per the TRAI, Which rank was gained by India in the wireless or mobile broadband segment in the world ? <br /> <br /> Ans : (2)<br /> 1. 19<br /> 2. 113<br /> 3. 125<br /> 4. 110<br /> 5. 115<br /> <br /> Explanation: India is ranked at 113th with a penetration of 3.2 per 100 inhabitants. India ranks 125th in the world for fixed broadband penetration. In fact Bhutan and Sri Lanka are ahead of us.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;29)Pakistan and which country agreed to hold their first joint military exercise?<br /> <br /> Ans : (1)<br /> 1. First<br /> 2. Second<br /> 3. Third<br /> 4. Last<br /> 5. Fourth<br /> <br /> Explanation: Pakistan and Russia on 16 April 2015 agreed to hold first-ever joint military exercises as a part of their enhanced defence cooperation.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;30)Which CEO was honoured with the White House Champions of Change on 16th April 2015?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Indira Nooyi<br /> 2. Satya Nadella<br /> 3. Vikram Patel <br /> 4. Chanda Kochhar<br /> 5. None<br /> <br /> Explanation: He is one of the 12 local Champions of Change who were honoured for their exemplary leadership.</p>

<p>&nbsp;31) Nasim Zaidi was appointed as the &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;.. Chief Election Commissioner of India on 19th Apr&rsquo;15? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. 21<br /> 2. 22<br /> 3. 20<br /> 4. 23<br /> 5. 24<br /> <br /> Explanation: Nasim Zaidi succeeded Hari Shankar Brahma, who retired on 18th Apr&rsquo;15. He will be the CEC till July, 2017, when he turns 65. Dr Zaidi is a 1976 batch IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;32)Who among the following person has been appointed as the University Advisory Professor at East China Normal University (ECNU)?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Raghuram Rajan <br /> 2. Vishal Sikka<br /> 3. NarayanMurthy<br /> 4. Ratan Tata<br /> 5. None<br /> <br /> Explanation: Vishal Sikka is a Chief Executive Officer of Infosys. ECNU is a prestigious Chinese university.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;33) Sitaram yechury has been elected as the new General Secretary of which Party of India on 19th Apr&rsquo;15?<br /> <br /> Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Congress<br /> 2. Communist<br /> 3. Pradesh Congress<br /> 4. BJP<br /> 5. Aam Aadmi<br /> <br /> Explanation: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) elected senior politburo member Sitaram Yechury as the new General Secretary replacing Prakash Karat who has completed his three terms as the Party General Secretary<br /> <br /> &nbsp;34) 34) Iran presented a four- point peace plan for which country to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,? <br /> <br /> Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Iraq<br /> 2. Yemen<br /> 3. Zambia<br /> 4. Saudi<br /> 5. Qatar<br /> <br /> Explanation: Iran presented a four- point peace plan for yemen country to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling for international action to end the &quot;senseless&quot; Saudi-led air campaign on Huthi rebels Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Ban Ki Moon in a letter that Tehran stands ready to help the United Nations restore peace to Yemen, where the rebels have taken over the capital and driven President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi into exile.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;35) 18th April was observed as &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;.?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (2)<br /> 1. World Heritage Day<br /> 2. World Heriditary Day<br /> 3. World Humanity Day<br /> 4. World unity Day<br /> 5. World health Day<br /> <br /> Explanation: World Heritage is the shared wealth of humankind. Protecting and preserving this valuable asset demands the collective efforts of the international community. This special day offers an opportunity to raise the public`s awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;36) Indian Women Hockey team achieved &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;.. position in the Hawkes`s Bay Cup Hockey tournament?<br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. Second<br /> 2. Third <br /> 3. Seventh<br /> 4. Fifth<br /> 5. Fourth<br /> <br /> Explanation: The Indian women`s hockey team defeated Japan 3-2 in the seventh-eighth position classification match to secure the seventh spot in the Hawke`s Bay Cup tournament . It was the team`s second consecutive win against Japan, after beating them in a bronze medal match at the 17th Asian Games last year.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;37)&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;..Indian race walkers qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics? <br /> <br /> Ans : (1)<br /> 1.Three<br /> 2. Five<br /> 3. Seven<br /> 4. One<br /> 5. Two<br /> <br /> Explanation: Three Indian race walkers, Khushbir Kaur, Manish Rawat and Sandeep Kumar have qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;38)Ashish Jakkar set a national youth record in boys&rsquo; hammer throw event and won &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;medal in the 12th National Youth Athletics Championships held in Bambolim, Goa? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. Bronze <br /> 2. Silver<br /> 3. Gold<br /> 4. Platinmum <br /> 5.None<br /> <br /> Explanation: The NJAC membership will include two senior most Judges of the Supreme Court, the Union Minister of Law and Justice, two eminent persons to be nominated by a committee of the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People. However, the new body may take some time to come into being.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;39) Which player won the Monte Carlo title recently?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (1)<br /> 1. Novak Djokovic<br /> 2. Roger Federer<br /> 3. Andrey Aggasi<br /> 4. Leander Paes <br /> 5. None<br /> <br /> Explanation: He also became the first man to win the opening three Masters Events of the season Novak Djokovic beat Tomas Berdych to win his second Monte Carlo title.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;40) The Centre promoted some airports as _______ hubs for entry and exit gateways in the future. ?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (1)<br /> 1.International<br /> 2.Trade<br /> 3.Import-Export<br /> 4.Infrastructure<br /> 5.None<br /> <br /> Explanation: The Centre has drawn up a draft Civil Aviation Policy , The airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata have been identified for development as major international hubs for travel to and from India.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;41) How much percent growth was observed in the Tourism sector of India during Jan-Mar&rsquo;2015 as compared to the same period in 2014? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. 1.5%<br /> 2. 10%<br /> 3. 3.2%<br /> 4. 5.3%<br /> 5. 6.0%<br /> <br /> Explanation: Nearly 23 lakh foreign tourists visited India between January and March this year.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;42) Name the city where , PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Dr. B R Ambedkar International Centre?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (3)<br /> 1. Mumbai<br /> 2. Bengaluru<br /> 3. New Delhi<br /> 4. Kolkata<br /> 5. Kerala<br /> <br /> Explanation: This year marks the 125th Birth Anniversary year of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (14.04.2015 to 14.04.2016). The Ministry of Social Justice &amp; Empowerment has planned a calendar of activities to pay respect to Dr. Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution.The four storeyed Centre would be built on an area of 3.25 acres and would have a Public Library, Research &amp; Extension Centre, Media-cum-Interpretation Centre, Convention Centre, two auditoriums and Exhibition on the Life of Dr. Ambedkar.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;43) 10 crore milestone has been achieved by which party in India in terms of membership that made the party a World&rsquo;s largest party? <br /> <br /> Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Congress<br /> 2. BJP<br /> 3. Aam aadmi<br /> 4. Bahujan samaj party<br /> 5. None<br /> <br /> Explanation: BJP has claimed to have crossed the ten crore membership mark to become the largest party in the world.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;44) Australia has agreed to share intelligence about Australians fighting with militant groups in which country?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (3)<br /> 1. United Nations<br /> 2. Russia<br /> 3. Iraq<br /> 4. Canada<br /> 5. USA<br /> <br /> Explanation: Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said the deal will help both countries in their efforts to tackle Islamic State. She added that Australia would have access to information gathered by Iranian operatives in Iraq.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;45) Amaravathi is the capital of Andhra Pradesh that is going to be keen to replicate which country&rsquo;s model of power development? <br /> <br /> Ans : (4)<br /> 1. Korea <br /> 2. United States<br /> 3. Singapore<br /> 4. Shanghai<br /> 5. London<br /> <br /> Explanation: AP State Energy Secretary, Ajay Jain, who accompanied the Chief Minister on his six-day tour to China, said several national and international companies are keen to invest in the State.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;46)According to which high court, Transgender category of the society is also entitled to get food security, ration card and to avail the status of the head of a household? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. Patna<br /> 2. Telengana<br /> 3. Lucknow<br /> 4. Jaipur<br /> 5. Thiruvananthapuram<br /> <br /> Explanation: A division bench of chief justice Dr DY Chandrachud and Justice Narain Shukla passed the judgment on a PIL, seeking direction to make available food security and ration cards to the transgender including their column as male/female/third gender.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;47) Kerala government launched which major campaign, in a bid to wean people away from addiction to liquor? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. suvartha<br /> 2. Sadbuddhi<br /> 3. Subhodham<br /> 4. Sampradayam<br /> 5. Sanskrithi &amp; sampradayam<br /> <br /> Explanation: Liquor consumption has alarmingly increased in Kerala over the years and has spread to all sections of the society. Subodham project aims to free one lakh people each year from alcohol addiction, through comprehensive, systematic awareness campaigns. The aim is to achieve the ambitious target of making the state totally alcohol free over the next ten years.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;48)Neeraj kumar is now the chief adviser of the BCCI`s Anti Corruption &amp; Security Unit (ACSU) for a term of how many years?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (1)<br /> 1. 2<br /> 2. 1<br /> 3. 3<br /> 4. 4<br /> 5. 5<br /> <br /> Explanation: The decision to appoint Neeraj Kumar to the top post was taken at the Governing Council Meeting of the Indian Premier League New Delhi, which was chaired by IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;49) Dharamvira Gandhi is the leader of which Party who has been removed from the post of parliamentary party leader recently? <br /> <br /> Ans : (3)<br /> 1. Congress<br /> 2. BJP<br /> 3. Aam aadmi party<br /> 4. CPI<br /> 5. Bahujan samaj Party<br /> <br /> Explanation: He has been replaced with Bhagwant Mann, who is said to be close to party chief Arvind Kejriwal. Mr Gandhi had spoken against the expulsion of Yogendra Yadav, and Prashant Bhushan from the National Executive.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;50)Tamilnadu government cancelled the permission granted to which company to set up a beverages plant in a district recently?<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Ans : (2)<br /> 1. Thumps up<br /> 2. Coca-cola<br /> 3. Maaza<br /> 4. Frooti<br /> 5. Sprite<br /> <br /> Explanation: The Tamil Nadu Government today cancelled the permission granted to Coca-Cola to set up a beverages plant at Perundruai in Erode district. The Managing Director of the state owned industries promotion corporation issued an order cancelling permission to the company, after it failed to start construction in the stipulated six months time.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p>

1) Nadal receives Spanish award.

• [Rafael Nadal] Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy awarded the Gold Medal for Merit to tennis star Rafael Nadal, who stated that “victory is accomplished through work”.
• Nadal was one of the winners of this award, decided last June 13, but he could not pick it up at the ceremony in November because he was still recovering from his recent appendectomy operation.

1. Country: Spain.
2. Capital: Madrid.
3. Nadal began the year 2015 as the defending champion at the Qatar Open. However, he lost in the first round.
4. Nadal opened his 2015 Australian Open by defeating Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets.
5. Nadal reached the semifinals of the Rio Open after defeating Thomaz Bellucci, Pablo Carreno Busta and Pablo Cuevas.
6. Rafael Nadal won his first singles title of 2015 when he won his 46th career clay-court title with a straight sets victory over Juan Mónaco in the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.

• [Floyd Mayweather] American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has won the unified World Welterweight title of World Boxing Council, World Boxing Organisation and World Boxing Association.
• Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao from Philippines on a unanimous decision with Judges Scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 in 12 rounds of intense boxing.
• The legendary bout termed as ‘Fight of the Century’ was played at iconic MGM Grand, Las Vegas.

• Chelsea won their first Premier League title for five years as Jose Mourinho`s side produced a typically stubborn display to grind out a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace at a jubilant Stamford Bridge.
• Chelsea have 83 points from 35 games and now cannot be surpassed by closest rivals Manchester City.

• Switzerland tennis player Roger Federer won the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open Men’s singles title by defeating Pablo Cueves of Uruguay.
• With this win, the world No 2 ranking player took his 85th ATP World Tour title and ended a long drought on clay since his previous title of 2012 Madrid Masters.

5) Indian Railway girls clinch 5th national hockey championship title.

• Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) has won the 5th National women hockey championship title by defeating Hockey Jharkhand with a huge margin at Saifai, Uttar Pradesh.
• For the RSPB, Saundarya Yendala scored three goals in the final match while Sunita Lakra and Lilima Minz scored two goals each. Anuradha Devi, Manmeet Kaur, Anupa Barla, Poonam Barla, and Deepgrace Ekka scored one goal each for the winning team.
• Hockey Punjab settled for the bronze medal by beating Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.

• [Maniram Patel] Gujarat`s Maniram Patel claimed gold in the men`s 20 km walk in the 19th Federation Cup senior athletics championship, clocking a time of 1:29:51 in the finals.
• Kuldeep of Tata Motors (1:31:04) and Ankit Kumar Kumar of Indian Navy came second and third respectively.
• World University Games silver medallist and defending champion Inderjeet Singh of Haryana became the first athlete in the meet to qualify for the Rio Olympics with a stupendous toss of 20.65m in shot put.
• evender Singh of the Army created the first meet record in the Federation cup in the javelin throw event, setting out the spear to 79.65 m. Singh and the silver medallist Neeraj Chopra of Haryana (73.96m) came under the qualifying grade for the Asian meet at Wuhan, China next month.

• At the International Shooting Competition held in Hannover, Germany, India’s top rifle shooters won 3 Gold and 2 Bronze medals. Abhinav Bindra, who got Gold medal in Bijing Olmpics, won both the individual and team gold in his pet 10 metre air rifle event.
• Chain Singh won Gold medal in 50 metre men rifle and team gold in 10 metre air rifle event.

1. [Abhinav Bindra]
2. Abhinav Bindra
3. The gold medal winning 10 metre air rifle team included Abhinav Bindra,Gagan Narang and Chain Singh.
4. Gagan Narang won the Bronze medal in men 50 metre rifle 3 positions event and Apurvi Chandela won Bronze medal in women’s air rifle event.
5. [Gagan Narag] 
6. Gagan Narang 
7. Information on ISSF or International Shooting Sports Federation:
8. It is the governing body of Olympics Shooting events in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun categories.
9. It was founded in the year 1907.
10. Its headquarters is in Munich,Germany.
11. ISSF president is Mr Olegario Vazquez Rana.

• [Sandeep Jajodia] The administrative turmoil in Indian boxing took a new turn as Federation President Sandeep Jajodia was ousted after an overwhelming vote against him in the No Confidence Motion brought in at a Special General Meeting, a move which was termed "illegal" by the incumbent.
• Jajodia lost the motion 2-55 after 57 of the 64 general body members gathered here in a meeting from which he was conspicuous by his absence.

• At the end of the four-day event at the Mangala stadium the Indian Army team emerged champions in the 19th Federation Cup national senior athletic championship, scoring 123.5 points.
• The Tamil Nadu team came second by securing 114 points. The overall men`s championships also went to the Army and Tamil Nadu with 123.5 and 48 points respectively.
• Kerala claimed the overall championship in the women`s category with 86 points followed by Karnataka with 68 points.
• The best athlete award in the championship in the men`s category was won by Inderjeet Singh of team Haryana for his stupendous toss in the shot put event, which helped him qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016.
• Srabani Nanda from Odisha was selected as the best athlete in the women`s category for the agility she displayed in the 100m event.

• [Jonathan Trott] England batsman Jonathan Trott has retired from international cricket with immediate effect after a disappointing tour of the West Indies.
• Trott only returned to the England side last month following an extended break from the game due to a stress-related illness but scored a meagre 72 runs, including three ducks, at an average of just 12 in the three-test series against West Indies.
• South African-born Trott played 52 tests, scoring 3,835 runs at an average of 44.08 after scoring a century on his debut in the 2009 Ashes series.
• He also played 68 one-day internationals, scoring 2,819 runs at an average of 51.25.

11) Stuart Bingham won World Snooker Championship.

• [Stuart Bingham] Stuart Bingham won the Betfred World Championship for the first time by beating Shaun Murphy in an extraordinary final at the Crucible.
• Murphy looked to have the momentum when he came from 15-12 down to 15-15, but Bingham won a crucial hour-long 31st frame and went on to take the next two to win the famous trophy and £300,000 top prize.

• [Geeta Phogat] Geeta Phogat bagged a bronze in the Women`s freestyle 58kg category, while Hitender Beniwal lost his bronze-medal play-off bout to return empty-handed in the Men`s 125kg division in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship in Doha.
• Geeta defeated Thi Loan Nguyen of Vietnam by fall verdict in the bronze medal play-off, to settle for the third position last night, according to the Wrestling Federation of India.

1. Belongs to Haryana, She is the first-ever Indian woman wrestler to have qualified for the Olympics. Phogat won a gold medal in the Wrestling FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament that concluded at Almaty, Kazakhstan in April 2012.