Daily Current Affairs : 20 May 2023 | Daily GK & Current Affairs Tests - Bank Exams PDF Download

Prime Minister unveils Mahatma Gandhi Bust in Hiroshima

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi revealed the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima, Japan. The Government of India gifted the 42-inch tall bronze bust to the city of Hiroshima as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between India and Japan during the Prime Minister's visit for the G-7 summit from 19-21 May 2023. The sculptor of the bust is Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Ram Vanji Sutar. The bust is located near the iconic A-Bomb Dome, a popular attraction visited by thousands of people daily. This location was chosen as a mark of solidarity for peace and non-violence, principles that Mahatma Gandhi dedicated his life to.

Siddaramaiah sworn in as CM of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar takes oath as Deputy CM

Siddaramaiah, the Congress Legislative Party leader, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, with D.K. Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress president, taking the oath as the Deputy Chief Minister. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru and was administered by Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot. Several Congress MLAs, including Dr G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa, KJ George, MB Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, Ramalinga Reddy, and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, also took oath as ministers in the state cabinet.

India’s Operation Karuna provides humanitarian aid to Cyclone Mocha victims in Myanmar

In line with its tradition of providing assistance during natural disasters in the region, India launched Operation Karuna to aid the people of Myanmar affected by Cyclone Mocha. The operation involved the deployment of three ships, INS Shivalik, INS Kamorta, and INS Savitri, carrying approximately 40 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) materials. An additional ship, INS Gharial, transported mostly medicines and medical items, including a portable medical container facility with a capacity for a 120-bed hospital. The relief materials included essential items, edible and non-edible, as well as medical supplies such as first aid items, antibiotics, anti-histamines, and intravenous fluids.

Indian Navy's sixth and final Kalvari Class Submarine, Vaghsheer commences sea trials

The sea trials for Vaghsheer, the Indian Navy's sixth and final Kalvari class submarine, have commenced. Vaghsheer is scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy in early 2024 after the completion of these trials. The submarine was launched on 20th April 2022 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). Vaghsheer, named after the sand fish, is a diesel attack submarine designed for sea denial and access denial warfare. It is equipped with a C303 anti-torpedo countermeasure system and can carry up to 18 torpedoes or Exocet anti-ship missiles, or 30 mines. With advanced stealth features, Vaghsheer can launch precision-guided weapons underwater or on the surface.

ISRO likely to launch NVS-01 navigation satellite on May 29

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch NVS-01, a navigation satellite, aboard the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk-II). The launch of NVS-01 is expected around May 29. This mission marks the return flight of the GSLV launch vehicle, which will carry the next-generation NavIC satellite. The satellite will replace the IRNSS-1G satellite launched in 2016. The launch of NVS-01 is part of ISRO's continuous efforts to enhance its navigation satellite system.

World Bee Day

World Bee Day is observed annually on May 20th to raise awareness about the significance of bees and other pollinators for the environment, agriculture, and human well-being. The Day aims to emphasize the importance of pollinators and address the challenges they face, including habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and diseases. By promoting efforts to protect and conserve bees, World Bee Day contributes to the sustainable development of our planet. The United Nations introduced this observance in 2017 to recognize the essential role played by bees and other pollinators in ecosystems. The date of May 20th was chosen to honor the birthday of Anton Janša, a renowned Slovenian beekeeping pioneer and bee expert.

PM Modi attends G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan; Holds bilateral meetings with top leaders of Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the G7 Summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20th. He was welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. During the summit, Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Japan, the President of South Korea, and the Prime Minister of Vietnam. The discussions focused on enhancing India-Japan friendship across various sectors, including trade, economy, and culture.
Both leaders emphasized the need to highlight the voice of the Global South and synergize efforts between their respective G7 and G20 Presidencies. The G7 Summit covered a wide range of topics, including nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and security, regional issues, climate and energy, food and health, development, digitization, and science and technology. Several countries and international organizations, such as Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, and the United Nations, were also invited to the summit by Japan.

RBI Announces Withdrawal of ₹2000 Banknotes from Circulation

In a surprising move, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the withdrawal of ₹2000 currency notes from circulation. However, the public has been given time until September 30 to either deposit these notes in their accounts or exchange them at banks. Unlike the sudden demonetization of old ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes in November 2016, the ₹2000 notes will remain legal tender until September 30.
The introduction of the ₹2000 denomination banknotes in 2016 was primarily aimed at meeting the currency requirements of the economy after the withdrawal of the legal tender status of ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes. With the objective fulfilled and an adequate supply of banknotes in other denominations, the printing of ₹2000 banknotes was halted in 2018-19.