Daily Current Affairs 5th May, 2021

Daily Current Affairs 5 May 2021 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt to extend payment of provisional pension up to a period of 1 year from date of retirement in view of pandemic situation
Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Government has decided to extend the payment of provisional pension up to a period of one year from the date of retirement in view of the pandemic situation.

• Similarly orders have been issued to extend the benefit of lump sum compensation to the NPS employees also, if they suffer a disability in the performance of duty and are retained in Government service in spite of such disablement.

Op CO-JEET launched by armed forces to fight COVID-19 in India
Treating the current coronavirus wave like a war, the armed forces have launched operation “CO-JEET” to aid anti-COVID-19 efforts, like strengthening medical infrastructure and oxygen supply chains, as well as take measures to ensure mental wellbeing of people.

• Lt. Gen. Kanitkar, who is the third woman to become a three-star general in the armed forces, is working round the clock to strategise and monitor steps to provide relief to COVID-19 patients.
• “Under the CO-JEET” plan, personnel of the three wings of the armed forces — the Army, the Indian Air Force and the Navy — have been pressed into service to help restore oxygen supply chains, set up COVID beds and provide help to the civilian administration in its fight to control the pandemic. “

INS Airavat with Critical Medical Stores Including Cryogenic Oxygen Tanks and Oxygen Cylinders Departs from Singapore
In support of the Nation’s fight against COVID-19 and as part of ongoing operation ‘Samudra Setu II, INS Airavat has departed Singapore with eight 27-ton capacity Cryogenic Oxygen Tanks and other critical COVID Medical Stores including 3600 Oxygen Cylinders.

• The containers and cylinders were sourced through various sources in coordination with the High Commission of India. Indian Navy continues to stand with the nation in these difficult times.

INS Talwar, with 40 tonne Liquid Medical Oxygen reaches New Mangalore Port in Karnataka
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya has said that INS Talwar, with 40 tonne Liquid Medical Oxygen has reached New Mangalore Port in Karnataka.

• The 40 tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen filled in cryogenic containers was donated by Bahrain.
• To support nation’s fight against COVID-19 and as a part of operation ‘Samudra Setu II’, seven Indian Naval ships including Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, Trikand, Jalashwa and Airavat have been deployed for shipment of liquid medical oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment from various countries.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and UK on Migration & Mobility Partnership
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of an MoU on Migration and Mobility Partnership between India and the UK.

• The MoU will benefit Indian students, academics, and researchers, migrants for professional and economic reasons and those willing to contribute through various projects to the economic development of both countries.
• It can support the innovation ecosystem in both countries by facilitating free flow of talent.

Madhya Pradesh: Rs, 379 crore transferred into accounts of 16,844 beneficiaries under Sambal scheme
In Madhya Pradesh, 379 crore rupees have been transferred into the accounts of 16 thousand 844 beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Jan-Kalyan Sambal scheme.

• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said state government accords high priority to benefit the poor families of unorganised sector workers.
• Meanwhile, Free Swastha Aahar Yojana (Healthy Food Scheme) for the corona patients of Bhopal is also being launched . The patient will get nutritious food on time free of cost in the hospital where he is admitted.

Nation’s first ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ inaugurated in Mumbai
The Nation’s first ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ was inaugurated by MP Rahul Shewale in Mumbai. This center has been set up in the parking lot of Kohinoor Square Tower at Dadar.

•  This first of its kind ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ facility has been made available to the citizens at a time when people with disabilities are facing difficulties in getting to the vaccination center.
• The center also provides transportation facilities to the citizens who do not have their own vehicles.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI announces moratorium on loans, fresh lending to vaccine makers, hospitals
RBI allowed certain individual and small borrowers more time to repay debt and allowed banks to give priority loans to vaccine makers, hospitals and COVID-related health infrastructure as it announced support measures to cushion the pandemic’s blow on the economy.

• The moratorium of up to two years will be available to individuals and small and medium enterprises that did not restructure their loans in 2020 and were classified as standard accounts till March 2021.
• This facility will be available to borrowers with a total exposure of Rs 25 crore. RBI will give Rs 50,000 crore of liquidity support to banks for providing fresh lending “to a wide range of entities including vaccine manufacturers; importers/suppliers of vaccines and priority medical devices; hospitals/dispensaries; pathology labs; manufactures and suppliers of oxygen and ventilators; importers of vaccines and COVID related drugs; logistics firms and also patients for treatment.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

COVID-19 Relief: Samsung Pledges $5mn to India, Paytm to Set Up Oxygen Plants in 13 Cities
Tech giant Samsung said it has pledged $5 million (Rs 37 crore), while Paytm Foundation intends to set up oxygen plants in 12-13 cities as part of efforts to support India’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Samsung will donate $3 million to the Centre and states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and provide $2 million worth of medical supplies, including 100 Oxygen Concentrators, 3,000 Oxygen Cylinders, and one million LDS syringes (to Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu).

APPOINTMENTS

TMC leader Mamata Banerjee takes oath as Chief Minister of West Bengal for 3rd consecutive term
In West Bengal, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the state for the third consecutive term.

• Ms. Banerjee has become the second woman in the country to be sworn in as Chief Minister of any state consecutively for three terms after former Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dixit.

MK Stalin appointed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit appointed DMK president M.K. Stalin as the Chief Minister and invited him to form the government in the State on May 7.

• The DMK has won 133 of the total 234 Assembly seats that went to polls on April 6. Some more seats were won by allies, including the Congress that bagged 18 constituencies.

AWARDS

Maria Ressa receives UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize
Investigative journalist and media executive Maria Ressa of the Philippines has been named as the 2021 laureate of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, following the recommendation of an international jury of media professionals.

• The $25,000 prize “recognizes outstanding contributions to the defence or promotion of press freedom especially in the face of danger,” according to UNESCO.

OBITUARIES

Former Head of Mar Thoma Church Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Passes Away
Former head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the longest-serving bishop in India Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom died due to age-related ailments. He was 103.

• An outstanding religious dignitary with a genuine humanitarian outlook and global vision, Mar Chrysostom was awarded Padma Bhushan by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018.He was a bishop for 68 years.

Ex-Union Minister, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan passes away
Former civil servant and ex-Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan Malhotra, 94, died in Delhi after a brief spell of illness.

• Jagmohan served J&K as Governor twice, first in 1984 and later in 1990, when militancy peaked. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1971, Padma Bhushan in 1977 and Padma Vibhushan in 2016.

CRRID founder and noted scholar Rashpal Malhotra passes away
Rashpal Malhotra (84), founder of the Center for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) and noted scholar passed away at a private hospital in Mohali after battling with COVID-19 for over a week.

•  Mr. Malhotra was presently the Executive Chairman of the CRRID and member of the Board of Governors of Pushpa Gujral Science City and several other such prestigious institutions. He was also Senate Member of the Punjabi University, Patiala and Panjab University, Chandigarh.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Hand Hygiene Day
May 5 is observed as the World Hand Hygiene Day and this is like the last, this day holds a lot of significance in our lives as we are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

• This year, the theme for World Hand Hygiene Day is “Achieving hand hygiene at the point of care” .The slogan for this day is, “Seconds save lives – clean your hands!”

International Day of the Midwife
International Day of the Midwife is observed globally on 5 May every year to recognise the work of midwives and raise awareness about the status of midwives for the essential care they provide to mothers and their newborns.

• The theme for 2021 International Day of the Midwife is “Follow the Data: Invest in Midwives.”

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