NATIONAL NEWS

Telangana Achieves 100% Coverage of PMJDY

• The state of Telangana achieved 100 percent household coverage of banking services through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

• According to the Social Security Administration survey, the state achieved 100 percent coverage of 135 welfare schemes and programs in 20 departments.

• Telangana has more than 1 crore 11 lakh Jan Dhan bank account holders with a total balance of over Rs 3 thousand crore.

• Around 61 lakh people in rural areas have opened Jan Dhan accounts, while in urban areas around 50 lakh people have zero balance accounts.

• Over 84 lakh Jan Dhan account holders in Telangana actively use RuPay cards, which provide additional benefits like credit facilities.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Inaugurates ‘Jungle Safari’

• Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Shri Ashok Gehlot virtually inaugurated ‘Jungle Safari’ at Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary.

• He also addressed the inaugural function of the Peace and Non-violence Cell offices in all districts.

• Peace and non-violence are the basis of culture, harmony, and brotherhood.

• Rajasthan is the only state where Peace and Non-Violence Department exist.

Myntra Launches ChatGPT-Powered Search Feature

• Flipkart group-owned fashion commerce platform Myntra has rolled out ‘MyFashionGPT’, a search feature powered by ChatGPT.

• The move aims to help shoppers with better product discovery and drive engagement on the retailer’s app.

• Customers can essentially look up curated looks on the app, say by typing keywords such as “airport looks”, and the system is designed to showcase a host of products including apparel, footwear, bags and sunglasses that consumers can choose from.

• Recently, the company also announced the launch of MyStylist, an AI-based stylist expert to provide customers with expert styling tips and vernacular search in 11 languages on its platform.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Extends $1 Billion Credit Line to Sri Lanka

• India on May 30 extended its $1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka till March 2024 to help purchase essential food, medicine and other essential commodities as Sri Lanka grapples with an unprecedented economic crisis.

• This agreement is an important step towards continuation of financial assistance provided by the Indian side to the Sri Lankan Government for procurement of essential items.

• The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Sri Lanka's Minister of State for Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, senior officials from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

• The credit line was extended last year when Sri Lanka was passing through its worst economic crisis.
• The facility has been instrumental in prompt procurement of critical supplies such as fuel, medicines, food items and industrial raw materials for the island nation.
• This extension of financial assistance further underscores the strong commitment of the Government of India as it continues to assist Sri Lanka with a comprehensive package of approximately USD 4 billion in line with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

BANKING

Indian Bank Empanelled as Clearing and Settlement Bank

• Indian Bank has been empanelled as a Clearing and Settlement Bank with the Indian Clearing Corporation Ltd (ICCL).

• Mahesh Kumar Bajaj, Executive Director, Indian Bank exchanged the agreement with Devika Shah, Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICCL to formalise Bank’s empanelment at a recently held event.

• The public sector bank can now facilitate banking services to members of BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) for clearing and settlement operations.

• The Indian Bank also launched the electronic term deposit receipt (e-TDR) product for online transmission of fixed term receipts (FDR) and margin with ICCL on behalf of the clearing members with its dedicated branch – Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

SPORTS

CAVA Women's Challenge Cup 2023

• India won the NSC-CAVA Women's Volleyball Challenge Cup title held in Kathmandu.

• The final match was held at the National Sports Council covered hall at Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.

• India became the champion by defeating Kazakhstan in the final.

• India won 3-0 over Kazakhstan.

• India remained undefeated in the entire competition.
• The tournament was organised by the Nepal Volleyball Association.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Skoch SILVER Award 2023

• Skoch SILVER Award 2023 presented to Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Chandigarh.
• This award has been given to this department for e-governance in computerized medical records of cattle treatment by the department.
• This is the first project of its kind in the country.
• This web-based application software caters to the veterinary department of five government veterinary hospitals and nine animal husbandry sub-centres in Chandigarh.
• The main objective of this application is to provide facility to the animal parents to register their animals online for services like treatment, vaccination and artificial insemination.
• It also includes maintaining all records of veterinary hospitals and sub-centres like OPD, stock books, daily drug expenditure, and artificial insemination.
• SKOCH Award was established in 2003.
• It is the highest civilian honour of the country presented by an independent organization.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

New Central Vigilance Commissioner

• President Draupadi Murmu (President Draupadi Murmu) administered the oath of office to Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Kumar Srivastava as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).

• Srivastava was serving as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) since December last year after the completion of Suresh N Patel's tenure as the Central Vigilance Commissioner.

• The Commission is headed by the CVC and can have a maximum of two Vigilance Commissioners.

• CVC is an apex vigilance institution, which is free from any executive authority.

• It is an independent body whose accountability is only to the Parliament.

External Auditor of WHO

• CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) Girish Chandra Murmu has been re-elected as the external auditor of the World Health Organization (WHO) for a period of four years from 2024 to 2027.
• He has held this position at the WHO since 2019, with his current term set to end in 2023.
• The re-election took place during the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
• Mr. Murmu secured a massive majority of 114 votes out of 156 in the first round of voting.
• The appointment of CAG Girish Chandra Murmu is a recognition of the position of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India among the international community.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

XPoSat

• The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru.

• XPoSat aims to develop and launch the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) later this year.

• XPoSat aims to study the polarisation of X-rays emitted by celestial sources.

• The study of X-ray polarisation can provide valuable insight into the nature and behaviour of astrophysical sources such as neutron stars, black holes and active galactic nuclei.

• XPoSat is India's first and world's second polarimetry mission.

• NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), the only other major mission of its kind, is slated to launch in 2021.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Goa Statehood Day

• Goa Statehood Day is celebrated every year on 30 May.

• On 30 May 1987, Goa was declared a separate state from Daman and Diu.

• The official language of Goa is Konkani.

• Goa is the smallest state of India in terms of area.