The 11th KISS Humanitarian Award 2018 was presented to Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate

(2006) and Founder, Grameen Bank & Chairman, Yunus Centre, Bangladesh. The award citation recognizes his

unwavering commitment to eradicate global poverty and foster economic and social development.

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International, was honoured with the 2018 Nikkei Asia Prize in

Japan for his contribution to Asia’s development. Dr. Pathak founded the Sulabh International in 1970. It is an

NGO that works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation among other social services.

Veteran British journalist and former BBC India correspondent Sir William Mark Tully was chosen for this year’s

RedInk award for lifetime achievement in journalism. The RedInk awards for excellence in journalism are

instituted by the Mumbai Press Club.

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar was honoured with "Swara Mauli" title by spiritual guru Vidya Narsimha

Bharati Swami.

Nisha Bhalla, a 46-year-old holistic coach and consultant from Mumbai was felicitated at the recently concluded

Annual WEF 2018 Awards. Women Economic Forum is the largest global gathering of women entrepreneurs and

leaders worldwide. This annual event recognises the most successful women across all fields, with guests like

Nobel laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui.

Tech giant Google collaborated with Niti Aayog to focus on fostering growth for India's nascent artificial

intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) ecosystem.

NITI Aayog and IBM signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to develop a crop yield prediction model using Artificial

Intelligence (AI) to provide real time advisory to farmers in Aspirational Districts. The partnership aims to work

together towards use of technology to provide insights to farmers to improve crop productivity, soil yield, control

agricultural inputs with the overarching goal of improving farmers’ incomes.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, a top state-run Chinese bank launched China's first India-

dedicated publicly offered investment fund, urging the Chinese to invest heavily stating that the Indian economy is

entering the "golden age of economic take-off". The fund, named as the Industrial and Commercial Bank Credit

Suisse India Market Fund, will "invest in exchange-traded funds listed on more than 20 exchanges in Europe and

the US that are based on the Indian market." It is China's first publicly offered fund for investing in India.

AWARDS & HONOURS

BUSINESS & CORPORATE

1st May to 31st May

� India and Peru signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. The pact was signed

in the presence of Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister of Peru, Cesar Villanueva

Arevalo.

� The Telangana government launched ‘Rythu Bandhu’ scheme, a first-of-its-kind initiative providing

investment support to farmers, who own land. The Rythu Bandhu scheme is aimed at providing financial

assistance of Rs. 8,000 per acre per annum to the farmers to take up cultivation and the government is

spending Rs. 1200 crore on the financial assistance to the farmers.

� A parliamentary panel headed by veteran BJP leader Murali Manohar Joshi decided to study the recovery

of black money and performance of public sector banks. As per the memorandum of the committee, the

panel will look into the import of uranium for nuclear plants, mining activities and environment, upgrading

of India Post offices and the drought situation in the country among other matters.

� The 6th US-India Aviation Summit was formally inaugurated by Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Suresh

Prabhu in Mumbai. The biennial Summit is jointly organised by Ministry of Civil Aviation and US Trade and

Development Agency (USTDA).

� The 9th India Japan Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi. Both Japan and India, as the third and the

seventh largest economies respectively, recognized that having access to reliable, clean and economical

energy is critical for their economic growth and in achieving this, both agreed on further strengthening of

bilateral energy cooperation for energy development of both countries, while also contributing to

worldwide energy security, energy access and climate change issues.

� The Union Cabinet approved doubling of investment limit from Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh under Pradhan

Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY).

� The Union Cabinet approved a plan to set up 20 All India Institute of Medical Sciences or AIIMS across the

country, six of which have already been established, and to upgrade 73 medical colleges. The decisions

are part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), which has been extended by two

years till 2020, with a financial outlay of Rs. 14,832 crore.

� The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal for renaming and restructuring of

Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) as Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK). CCEA

also approved its continuation during the remaining period of the 14th Finance Commission. The

Programme aims to address development deficits in the identified minority concentration areas.

� The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for the Umbrella Scheme, "Green Revolution

– Krishonnati Yojana" in agriculture sector beyond 12th Five Year Plan for the period from 2017-18 to

2019-20 with the Central Share of Rs. 33,269.976 crore. The Umbrella scheme comprises of 11

Schemes/Missions. These schemes look to develop the agriculture and allied sector in a holistic and

scientific manner to increase the income of farmers by enhancing production, productivity and better

returns on produce. The Schemes will be continued with an expenditure of Rs.33,269.976 crore for three

financial years, i.e., 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

BILLS / ACTS / COMMITTEES / SCHEMES / POLICIES

� Ministry of Women and Child Development approved setting up additional 100 One Stop Centres for

women affected by violence. These OSCs will be set up in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,

Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

� The Government of India signed a loan deal worth $ 200 million with the World Bank for the National

Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan). The loan would help the Government of India in achieving its goal

of reducing stunting in children 0-6 years of age from 38.4% to 25% by the year 2022.The POSHAN (PM’s

Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) Abhiyaan was launched by the Prime Minister in March

2018 at Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.

� A pact was signed between India and Guatemala (a country in Central America) for strengthening

diplomatic cooperation through Respective Foreign Service Institutes in the educational field.

� Ministry of Tourism announced to expand Buddhist tourism circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme to 21

more states to make it India’s first trans-national tourist circuit. Earlier it was envisaged only to seven

major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

� The states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttarakhand agreed to implement the

ambitious national health protection mission, which aims to provide an annual coverage of Rs 5 lakh per

family. The four states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh inked MoUs with the Union Health Ministry

for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission.

� In its latest report “Asia and Pacific Regional Economic Outlook”, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

reaffirmed that India will be the fastest-growing major economy in 2018, with a growth rate of 7.4% and

7.8% in 2019.

� India was the largest remittance-receiving country in the world, with migrant workers from the country

sending home $69 billion in 2017, according to a report which said remittances to the Asia-Pacific region

amounted to $256 billion last year. The report 'RemitSCOPE - Remittance markets and opportunities - Asia

and the Pacific' said India ($69 billion), China ($64 billion) and the Philippines ($33 billion) are the three

largest remittance-receiving countries in the world in 2017.

� According to credit rating agency Fitch, India's economic growth will accelerate to 7.3 per cent in the

current fiscal and 7.5 per cent in the next as money supply has recovered to its pre-demonetisation level

and disruptions related to the rollout of GST have diminished.

� After topping the chart for four years, India slipped to the 6th position globally on the Global Optimism

Index in the first quarter of 2018, as per the Grant Thornton’s International Business Report. Austria

topped the index followed by Finland, Indonesia, the Netherlands and the US.

� According to the data released by the commerce and industry ministry, the growth of eight core sectors

slowed to 3-month low of 4.1 per cent in March due to weak performance in as many as six sectors

including coal, crude oil and natural gas. The other sectors which showed slower growth rate were refinery

products, steel and electricity.

� The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to provide financial assistance @ of Rs. 5.50

per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to sugar mills to offset the cost of cane, in order to

help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers.

� India was ranked 11th in the FDI Confidence Index 2018 released by global consultancy firm A T Kearney.

The list was topped by US, Canada and Germany (in that order).

� The CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) signed its 200th unilateral advance pricing agreement (UAPA),

which is aimed at promoting government's resolve of non-adversarial tax regime. The total number of

APAs entered into by CBDT so far has gone up to 220, which include 20 Bilateral APAs. The Indian APA

program has been appreciated nationally and internationally for being able to address complex transfer

pricing issues in a fair and transparent manner.

� India ranked fourth out of 25 nations in the Asia-Pacific region on the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index -

an index that measures their overall power, with the country being pegged as a “giant of the future” but

trails behind in indicators of defence networks and economic relationships.

� Reserve Bank initiated prompt corrective action against public sector lender Dena Bank in view of high

non-performing loans, restricting the bank from giving fresh credit and new hiring.

� International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) World Employment and Social Outlook Report projected that

increase in surface temperature due to global warming will lead to around 2,59,000 job losses in India by

2030, especially in carbon-and resource-intensive industries.

ECONOMY & FINANCE

Oscar-winning film editor Anne V. Coates, widely considered one of the greatest in her field whose many credits

include such disparate works as "Lawrence of Arabia," ''The Elephant Man" and "Fifty Shades of Grey," died at the

age of 92. She belonged to England.

The 15th Finance Commission constituted an advisory council to advise and assist the commission. The 6-member

council will be headed by the President of Forum for Strategic Initiatives, Arvind Virmani.

Balakumaran, a veteran Tamil novelist, passed away at age 71. He was a recipient of a number of awards,

including the state government’s ‘Kalaimamani’ honour.

The book ‘Across the Bench – Insight into the Indian Military Judicial System’ authored by Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan,

former Army Commander, was officially released.

Govind Lal Vora, a noted journalist from Chhattisgarh, passed away at age 86.

Mahathir bin Mohamad (92) became the new Prime Minister of Malaysia, after scoring a historic victory at the

14th general election 2018, thus becoming the oldest living Prime Minister of Malaysia and the world’s oldest head

of government.

The Sikkim government nominated Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan as the Green Ambassador of the state, for

promoting Sikkim as a Green Destination, nationally and internationally, on voluntary basis. The state government

had earlier this year roped in AR Rahman as its ambassador to promote tourism in Sikkim.

Nandram Das Bairagi, a noted Hindi film lyricist, poet and politician, passed away at the age of 87. Bairagi was a

Lok Sabha member between 1984 and 1989 and also a former Rajya Sabha MP.

Nirmal Hirawat, a former Madhya Pradesh minister and senior Congress leader, passed away at the age of 74.

In a Cabinet reshuffle, Col Rajyavardhan Rathore took charge as the new Union Minister of Information and

Broadcasting (I&B), replacing Smriti Irani, who will now hold only the portfolio of Minister of Textiles.

Former IAS officer Subhash Chandra Khuntia was appointed as the new chairman of the Insurance Regulatory

and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). A 1981 batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, Mr. Khuntia served

as the Chief Secretary to the State government.

India’s top table tennis player G Sathiyan, who won three medals on his Commonwealth Games debut this year,

signed with German Bundesliga’s top division club ASV Grunwettersbach Tischtennis.

Heena Sidhu clinched the gold medal and P Shri Nivetha settled for bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event at

the International Shooting in Germany.

Mansoor Ahmed, Pakistan’s World Cup-winning hockey goalkeeper, passed away at the age of 49. In addition to

being named the world’s best goalkeeper on four occasions, Ahmed was bestowed with a presidential award in

1988 and the Pride of Performance in 1994.

PEOPLE IN NEWS

SPORTS

World

� The International Day of Families was observed on May 15, like every year. The theme this year was

“Families and inclusive societies”.

� The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a comprehensive plan to eliminate industrially-produced

artificial trans fats from the global food supply by 2023. Elimination of trans fats is key to protecting

health and saving lives, the WHO said. The global health body estimates that every year, trans fat intake

leads to over 5,00,000 deaths worldwide from cardiovascular diseases.

� China’s first domestically developed aircraft carrier “Type-001A” started sea trials to demonstrate the

reliability and capability of the ship’s propulsion systems. Few countries in the world have aircraft carriers.

� The first meeting of the BIMSTEC Working Group on Customs Cooperation was held in New Delhi.

BIMSTEC Member States include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

� The World Thalassaemia Day was observed on May 8, like every year, to raise awareness about this

disease - an inherited blood disorder in the blood in which the body produces abnormally low Red Blood

Cells (RBCs). The 2018 theme was ‘Thalassaemia past, present and future: Documenting progress and

patients’ needs worldwide’.

� The International Nurses Day was celebrated across the world on May 12, like every year, to mark the

birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The theme this year was –

‘Nurses A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human right’.

� Like every year May 3 was celebrated as World Press Freedom Day all over the World. The theme this

year was ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’.

� According to a report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India's defence

spending increased by 5.5 per cent over 2016 and touched $63.9 billion- the fifth highest in the world

after US, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. The global military expenditure increased to $1.73 trillion- 2.2

per cent of the global GDP and 1.1 per cent over the expenditure in 2016.

� China successfully launched “APSTAR-6C”, a new communication satellite into orbit.

� NASA launched first-ever InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat

Transport) lander dedicated to exploring the deep interior of Mars.

� The United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Unofficially known as the "Iran

Deal" or the "Iran Nuclear Deal", the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is an agreement on the nuclear

program of Iran reached in July 2015 between Iran, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United

Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany) and the

European Union.

MISCELLANEOUS

� Nepal will host the 2018 Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation

(BIMSTEC) summit. BIMSTEC countries are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka Myanmar and

Thailand.

India

� The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced to set up a skill development centre at

‘Bharosa,’ an integrated support centre for distressed women and children in Hyderabad, Telangana.

� Scientists have discovered the world’s second oldest grain of magnetic zircon from the Singhbhum rock at

the Champua in Kendujhar district of Odisha.

� The National Technology Day was celebrated in India on May 11, like every year. On this day in 1998,

India successfully tested its nuclear bombs in Pokhran, Rajasthan.

� In a major step towards realising the Centre's smart city mission (SCM), the Madhya Pradesh government

launched the country's first Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) for all seven smart cities of

the state in Bhopal.

� According to Global Urban Air Pollution database released by World Health Organisation (WHO), 14 Indian

cities have figured in list of world’s 20 most polluted cities in terms of particulate matter PM2.5 levels in

2016. These 14 cities include Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur,

Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur.

� The Indian and French navies conducted the third and last phase of the 2018 Varuna naval exercise, from

1st to 7th of May, in the vicinity of Reunion Island, a French administrative department in the India

Ocean.

� Punjab government along World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India is conducting the first organized census of

Indus Dolphins, one of the world’s rarest mammals found only in India and Pakistan.

� The 15th Asia Media Summit 2018 was hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,

Government of India, jointly with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), in New Delhi. The

theme for the Summit, was `Telling Our Stories – Asia and More’.

� The First Apex Conference for CEOs of Smart Cities was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

� Nepal Government granted power generation licence to Indian government-owned subsidiary Satluj Jal

Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) from a 900-megawatt (MW) Arun-3 Hydropower Project located in eastern

Nepal.

� India sent to Bangladesh its second relief consignment to help tens of thousands of displaced Rohingya

Muslims who fled Myanmar following a military crackdown, triggering one of the world's worst refugee

crises. Over 600,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar's violence-hit Rakhine state to neighbouring

Bangladesh since August when the military intensified crackdown against alleged terrorist outfits of

Rohingya Muslims.

� Indian Army’s month long Vijay Prahar exercise concluded in Suratgarh, Rajasthan. It was conducted by

South Western Command of Indian Army.

� United States' prestigious Stanford University agreed to assist Uttar Pradesh Government to combat

chronic disease like Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.

� The Indian Army finalised a Rs. 15,000-crore project under which a range of ammunition and tanks will be

produced indigenously. The project aims to enable the forces to fight a 30-day war and cut dependence on

imports.

� The Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) run by an all-woman team began its operations Phagwara,

Punjab. It is the 192nd POPSK in the country, but the first one to be operated by an all-woman team.

� The fourth meeting of South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), an inter-governmental wildlife

law enforcement agency was held in Kolkata, West Bengal. It was the first meeting of SAWEN to be held

in India since its inception in 2011 in Bhutan.

IIT Bombay won the Clarivate Analytics India Innovation Award 2018 in the Academic Institutions category.

The award places IIT Bombay in the top 12 innovators in India.

The Singchung Bugun Community Reserve (SBVCR), an NGO from West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh,

won the India Biodiversity Award 2018 in the “Conservation of wildlife species” category for its efforts in

conserving rare wildlife resources in the area.

Kerala cartoonist Thomas Antony won an international award, in the best caricature category. Antony, currently

working as Executive Artist of Malayalam daily 'Metro Vaartha', is among the nine winners at the 13th edition of

the World Press Cartoon awards, instituted by an organisation based in Lisbon, Portugal. Antony is the lone

cartoonist selected from Asia selected for the prize.

The NTPC Limited signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bihar Government to improve performance

of power sector in the state.

After making a successful foray in the consumer goods market, Patanjali announced its entrance in the telecom

sector with the launch of Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards, in alliance with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The Tata Trusts joined hands with the government to help it in development initiatives in eight worst Naxal-

affected districts in Chhattisgarh, which were covered under the "transformation of aspirational" districts

programme. As per the pact, the Tata Trusts will help the government in conducting surveys and providing ground

level and technical support in raising the living standards of citizens and ensuring inclusive growth for all.

AWARDS & HONOURS

BUSINESS & CORPORATE

� The Gujarat government unveiled its 'Reuse of Treated Waste Water Policy' which aims to reduce the

state's dependence on fresh water sources like the Narmada river.

� The Jammu and Kashmir government submitted a detailed project report of the Rs 189 crore Devika river

rejuvenation project to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for approval.

� The Ministry of Women and Child and Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the

Government of Uttar Pradesh for management of home for widows at Vrindavan.

� The Himachal Pradesh government launched the ‘Prakritik Kheti Khushhaal Kisaan Yojana’ to enhance

agricultural income by adopting low-cost climate-resilient Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) system.

� The Telangana government announced a unique life insurance scheme for farmers. Under the scheme, the

government will provide life insurance facility of Rs 5 lakh to the nominee, after the death of the insured

farmer.

� The 5th India-CLMV Business Conclave was held at Phnom Penh, Cambodia. CLMV stands for Cambodia,

Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.

� The HRD Ministry announced the launch of ‘Samagra Shiksha’ programme subsuming three existing

schemes: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher

Education (TE). The scheme focuses on improving quality of education, enhancing the Learning outcomes

and using technology to empower children and teachers. This was done to treat school education

holistically, from pre-school to Class XII.

� The Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme was launched at the National

Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Auditorium, Karnal. The scheme was first announced in the Union Budget

session of 2018-19 by the then Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley. The GOBAR-DHAN scheme is an effort by

the government to improve the living conditions in the Indian villages and make them open-defecation

free. A segment of the Swachh Bharat initiative, this scheme will focus on useful conversion of waste into

energy.

� Governments of India, Netherlands and Sweden launched first-of-its-kind collaborative research

programme on HIV/AIDS. The programme is aimed at harnessing complementary research strengths and

diverse expertise across the three nations to catalyze the development of better tools to understand and

address the burgeoning global epidemic of HIV.

� State run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) distributed over 30 crore light emitting diode (LED) bulbs

across the country under the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme. The UJALA scheme

was launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in January 2015 and is currently the largest LED

distribution programme in the world. The distribution of 30 crore LED bulbs in India has led to energy

savings of over 38,952 million kWh, annually, amounting to Rs 15,581 crore in energy savings.

� According to Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), the subscriber base of Atal

Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed 1 crore subscribers mark since its launch in May 2015. Till date, the

scheme has collected Rs. 3,950 crore of contribution from subscribers.

BILLS / ACTS / COMMITTEES / SCHEMES / POLICIES

� Moody’s Investors Service cut India’s 2018 growth forecast to 7.3 per cent from the previous estimate of

7.5 per cent, saying the economy is in cyclical recovery but higher oil prices and tighter financial

conditions will weigh on the pace of acceleration. Moody’s, however, maintained its 2019 growth forecast

at 7.5 per cent.

� The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $500 million loan agreement to provide additional

financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project.

� India signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for strengthening the public financial management in

Rajasthan project. The Project size is approximately USD 31 million, of which USD 21.7 million will be

financed by the World Bank, and the remaining amount will be funded-out of the State Budget. The

Project duration is 5 years.

� The 15th Finance Commission constituted a high level group headed by Director AIIMS, Dr. Randeep

Guleria, to examine the strengths and weaknesses for enabling balanced expansion of health sector.

� India ranked 145th among 195 countries in terms of quality and accessibility of healthcare, behind its

neighbours like China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, according to the Global Burden of Disease

study. However, it mentioned that India saw improvements in healthcare access and quality since 1990.

The countries with the highest levels of healthcare access and quality were Iceland, Norway, the

Netherlands, Luxembourg, Finland and Australia.

� Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (MCX) launched India’s first options contract on copper futures to

bring greater vibrancy to the metals market.

� According to the AfrAsia Bank Global Wealth Migration Review, India is the sixth wealthiest country in the

world with a total wealth of $8,230 billion. The US is the wealthiest country in the world with a total

wealth of $62,584 billion, followed by China ($24,803 billion) at the second place and Japan ($19,522

billion) at the third place. Total wealth refers to the private wealth held by all the individuals living in each

country. It includes all their assets (property, cash, equities, business interests) less any liabilities.

� India dragged the US to the World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement mechanism over the

imposition of import duties on steel and aluminium. India stated that the decision will impact exports of

these products to the US and it is not in compliance with global trade norms.

� According to UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP), India’s economy is projected to grow

7.6% in fiscal year 2018-19, making it fastest growing economy in the world. GDP growth in India is

expected 7.5 and 7.6% in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively.

� The government approved a dedicated Rs 5,000 crore fund to bring more land area under micro-irrigation

as part of its objective to boost agriculture production and farmers income. The fund was set up under

NABARD, which will provide this amount to States on concessional rate of interest to promote micro-

irrigation, which currently has a coverage of only 10 million hectares as against the potential of 70 million

hectares.

� BSE Ltd., Asia’s first stock exchange, received recognition as a ‘Designated Offshore Securities Market’

(DOSM) from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), thus becoming the first stock

exchange in India to receive DOSM recognition.

ECONOMY & FINANCE

The book ‘Straight Talk’, authored by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a member of Rajya Sabha, was released by the

Vice President.

Film actor Akshay kumar launched an advertisement campaign on twin pit toilet technology for the Swachh

Bharat Mission (Grameen) in New Delhi. The ad campaign focuses on promoting the twin pit toilet technology in

rural India.

Former US astronaut Alan Bean, who was the fourth man to walk on the Moon, passed away in Texas, United

States at the age of 86.

Alicia Pucheta, the Vice President of Paraguay, became the first-ever interim woman President of Paraguay after

President Horacio Cartes offered his resignation from the presidency.

Amar Devulapalli, a Hyderabad-based journalist, was elected as the new President of Indian Journalists Union, a

body of working journalists in the country.

Anil Kumar Jha was appointed as chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of Coal India Limited. CIL is a state-

owned coal mining company headquartered in Kolkata.

Government appointed former Supreme Court Judge CK Prasad as Chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI)

for a second term. PCI is a statutory body which oversees the conduct of the print media.

BJP leaders Ganeshi Lal (from Haryana) and Kummanam Rajasekharan (from Kerala) were appointed as

Governors of Odisha and Mizoram respectively.

Indian botanist Dr. Kamaljit S. Bawa was conferred with the prestigious Linnean Medal in Botany from the

Linnean Society of London, thus becoming the first Indian to win the award ever since it was first constituted in

1888.

Noted Telugu film personality Madala Ranga Rao, also popularly known as 'Red Star' for his revolutionary

movies, died at the age of 69.

Mia Amor Mottley became the first female Prime Minister of the Caribbean island of Barbados.

Nasir Ul Mulk, a former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice, was appointed as the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan

until general elections on July 25, 2018.

28 year old Nima Jangmu became the only woman in the world to climb three highest peaks in Nepal above

8,000 meters in one season within 25 days- Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt Kanchenjunga.

Pankaj Saran, a 1982-batch officer of Indian Foreign Service, was appointed as the new Deputy National Security

Advisor (NSA).

Former Supreme Court judge Justice R K Agrawal, was appointed the President of the National Consumer

Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

PEOPLE IN NEWS

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, who is currently Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, was appointed the new General Officer

Commander-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Northern Command of the Indian Army.

Sangeeta Bahl, former model and entrepreneur from Jammu and Kashmir, became the oldest Indian woman to

have scaled the world’s tallest peak “Mount Everest”.

Sudha Balakrishnan, the Vice-President of National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), was appointed the first-

ever Chief Financial Officer of the Reserve Bank of India. She will hold the rank of executive director and will have

a 3-year term.

NITI Aayog announced the signing of a Statement of Intent (SoI) with noted media personality and entrepreneur

Sushant Singh Rajput, to collaborate and support NITI’s flagship initiative, the Women Entrepreneurship

Platform (WEP).

Former Himachal Pradesh governor and Congress leader Urmila Singh died at the age of 71. Singh had also

served as a minister in Madhya Pradesh government and had headed the state Congress unit.

Lt Gen Zorawar Chand Bakshi, one of India’s most highly decorated generals, passed away at the age of 97.

India's top ranked under-19 player Aakarshi Kashyap lived upto her top billing as she won the girls' singles title

of the Yonex Sunrise All India Junior ranking badminton tournament.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and UN Environment signed an agreement to promote ‘green’

cricket in India. The BCCI will endeavor to reduce its environmental impact by greening operations and engaging

cricketers and fans in green initiatives.

Chennai Super Kings won the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL-11) after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the

final, thus clinching their 3rd IPL title.

Daniel Ricciardo, an Australian racing driver, won the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix 2018.

Japan’s women’s badminton team clinched the Uber Cup for the first time since 1981 when they defeated hosts

Thailand. The Uber Cup is second in prestige only to the Olympics as a national team event.

Top discus thrower Vikas Gowda retired after competing at the highest level for more than 15 years, during

which he became the first and only Indian male to win Commonwealth Games medals in the discipline.

Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli won the International Cricketer of the Year at the CEAT Cricket Ratings

awards. Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan was presented the International Batsman of the Year Award, while New

Zealander Trent Boult won International Bowler of the Year Award. Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan was

presented with the T20 Bowler of the Year Award.

SPORTS

World

� The World No Tobacco Day was observed on May 31, with the theme “Tobacco and Heart Disease”.

� The International Day of UN Peacekeepers was observed on May 29, like every year. The theme was “UN

Peacekeepers: 70 Years of Service and Sacrifice”.

� Colombia became the first Latin American nation to join Nato as 'global partner'. The North Atlantic Treaty

Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries

based on the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.

� The World Health Organization (WHO) validated Nepal for having eliminated trachoma as a public health

problem – a milestone, as the country becomes the first in WHO’s South-East Asia Region to defeat the

world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.

� Scientists have discovered the first known permanent immigrant to the solar system - an asteroid,

currently nestling in Jupiter's orbit, that migrated from another star system. All of the planets in our solar

system, and the vast majority of other objects as well, travel around the Sun in the same direction.

However the immigrant asteroid named (514107) 2015 BZ509 is different - it moves in the opposite

direction in what is known as a 'retrograde' orbit.

� In the hope of tracking water on our planet, NASA successfully launched two satellites into orbit by the

name of GRACE-FO.

� May 22 was celebrated as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding

and awareness of biodiversity issues.

� The United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA) listed Pakistan among the top three sources for

money laundering in the United Kingdom. The other two countries are Nigeria and Russia.

� China successfully launched a relay satellite to enable a rover to communicate with Earth from the Moon’s

mysterious far side, as part of the Communist giant’s ambitious goal of being the first country to send

such a probe. Named Queqiao (Magpie Bridge), the 400-kg satellite has a designed life of three years.

� Russia unveiled the world's first floating nuclear power station in the city of Murmansk.

� The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an extraordinary summit in Istanbul to

discuss recent Israeli violence against Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip.

� May 18 was celebrated in over 100 countries as International Museum Day. The 2018 theme was

‘Museums and Hyper Communication – New Approaches and New Public‘.

India

� The Andhra Pradesh government declared official symbols for the state. Neem and Black Buck (Krishna

Jinka) were declared as the state tree and animal respectively. Similarly, Rose-ringed parakeet was

declared as the state bird while jasmine as the state’s flower.

MISCELLANEOUS

� The Gaj Yatra was rolled out by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the

Wildlife Trust of India from Meghalaya. It is a part of a 18-month-long national campaign to protect India’s

national heritage animal “elephant” and its habitat.

� The United Nations Environment Program recognized Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) as the world's

first fully solar energy-powered airport.

� The Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur signed a Rs 15 crore-Memorandum of Understanding to

develop prototypes for self-piloted vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. These prototypes will be

used as air taxis for civilians.

� Continuing its endeavour to promote India’s rich cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture organised a 3 day

long diversified cultural festival ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ in Uttrakhand.

� The ASEAN India Film Festival 2018 started in New Delhi. During the 6-day event, 32 films from 11

countries were screened.

� The UNICEF launched a ‘data visualisation app’ which provides a user-friendly visual representation of

complex analytics of the education scenario in India.

� The first ever bilateral joint military training exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI 2018 between India and Malaysia

was held in Malaysia.

� According to report by World Health Organisation (WHO), human-triggered factors like habitat loss due to

deforestation and climate change set off infectious outbreaks such as recent Nipah cases in Kerala.

� A new software, ‘Nidaan’, was launched in Rajasthan for presumptive diagnosis and monitoring of

seasonal and non-communicable diseases as well as the trends of ailments found in the specific areas.

� India successfully test-fired the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a test

range along the Odisha coast to validate some new features.

� Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced that Chhattisgarh would get a specialised anti-Naxal

combat force called "Black Panther" on the lines of the Greyhound unit. The Greyhounds are a special

force in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh that specialise in anti-insurgency operations against Naxalites and

Maoists.

� In a bid to enhance combat capabilities in Naxal-hit area of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, the Central

Reserve Police Force (CRPF), for the first time, decided to include local representation in a special unit.

The special unit was numbered as 241 and named as 'Bastariya Battalion’.

� Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted work for Zojila tunnel, Asia'a longest and strategic bi-directional

tunnel, to provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.

� The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) set up first of its kind Centre for Energy Regulation in the

country to strengthen policy and regulatory limitations in energy and power sector.

� Pakistan voiced concern over the inauguration of the 330 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project in Jammu

and Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying inauguration without resolution of dispute between

the two countries will tantamount to violation of the Indus Water Treaty.

� Supreme Court approved Centre’s draft Cauvery Management Scheme for smooth distribution of water

among four southern riparian states/UT viz. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

� India saw an estimated 211 cases of tuberculosis per 1,00,000 people in 2016, better than neighbouring

Bangladesh and Myanmar which recorded 221 and 361 cases respectively in this category, according to

the World Health Statistics 2018 released by WHO. India has pledged to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025,

five years ahead of the global target set by WHO.

� According to recently released report by Mercom Communications, India emerged as third largest solar

market in world in 2017 behind China and United States.