22nd May 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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National Affairs

• Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev is being observed today with reverence.
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the golden jubilee celebrations of renowned Hindi Poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's works 'Sanskriti ke Chaar Adhyay' and 'Parshuram ki Pratiksha' in New Delhi.
• Dinkar is considered as one of the most important modern Hindi poets.
• He has been hailed as a Rashtrakavi ("National poet") on account of his inspiring patriotic compositions.
• He won Sahitya Akademi and Padma Bhushan awards in 1959 and Jnanpith in the year 1972.
• India has reached sixth position in terms of publishing scientific research papers, climbing four spots (earlier our country was in 10th Position).
• Secretary, Department of Science and Technology : Ashutosh Sharma, 
• Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah invites AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa to form a new government in the state.
• Jayalaithaa is set to become the Chief Minister of the state for the fifth time.
• Union Home Ministry issues notification saying Lieutenant Governor has jurisdiction over matters of services also in National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• President Pranab Mukherjee has inaugurated 24 hot-spots with 30 WiFi access points in the President’s Estate, making it 100 percent WiFi enabled.
• Important Points to Note : 
• India was at the 89th position in Network Readiness Index.
• Countries like Singapore, Finland and Sweden are leaders in this index.
• India, with 244 million internet users, ranks third after China and the US in terms of number.
• Communication and Information Technology Minister : Ravi Shankar Prasad 

International Affairs

• Today (22nd May) is the  International Day for Biological Diversity (or World Biodiversity Day).
• This day is being observed by United Nations to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
• Themes of International Day for Biological Diversity
• 2015 - Biodiversity for Sustainable Development
• 2014 - Island Biodiversity
• 2013 - Water and Biodiversity
• 2012 - Marine Biodiversity
• 2011 - Forest Biodiversity
• India has ranked 24th out of 70 countries in the first Environmental Democracy Index.
• This Index evaluates nations' progress in enacting laws to promote transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in environmental decision making.
• This list was launched by Washington-based World Resources Institute (WRI) and Access Initiative.
• This Index was topped by Lithuania 
• Top 10 Nations :
• Lithuania, 
• Latvia, 
• Russia, 
• US, 
• South Africa, 
• UK, 
• Hungary, 
• Bulgaria, 
• Panama and 
• Colombia 
• Note : The index evaluates environmental democracy in 70 countries, including 75 legal and 24 practice indicators, based on recognized international standards. 

People in News

• A special Court in Delhi granted bail to Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Union Minister Dasari Narayan Rao and ex-Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda in a coal block allocation case in Jharkhand.
• The court also granted bail to former Coal Secretary HC Gupta in the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation case. 

Science & Technology

• The Union Cabinet has approved Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) continuation programme of fifteen operational flights of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C36 to PSLV-C50, thus enabling the launch of satellites required for Earth Observation, Navigation and Space Sciences along with the possibility of clinching commercial launch service contracts.
• The total fund requirement is Rs 3090 crore and includes the cost of fifteen PSLV vehicles, Programme Elements, Programme Management and Launch Campaign. 
• It will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency of four to five launches per year, with a greater focus on enhancing the level of participation by the Indian industry. 
• All the fifteen operational flights would be completed during the period 2017-2020.

Read more Daily Current Affairs updates from here

Note : The current affairs of  23rd May 2015 will be available soon....

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