Current Affairs: May 2023 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

US and Papua New Guinea signed a defense pact 

• The United States and Papua New Guinea have signed a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement – a move that has sparked controversy in the Pacific Island nation and comes as Washington and China jostle for influence in the region.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape signed the pact and a maritime security agreement during Blinken’s visit to the capital Port Moresby Advance text of the agreements were not released by either side, but the new defense cooperation was expected to expand US access to military and other facilities in PNG, bolstering Washington’s security ties in the South Pacific.
• About: Papua New Guinea - Papua New Guinea is an island country that lies in the south-western Pacific. It includes the eastern half of New Guinea and many small offshore islands.

Prime Minister unveils Mahatma Gandhi Bust in Hiroshima 

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima, Japan. 
• The Mahatma Gandhi bust has been gifted by the Government of India to the city of Hiroshima as a symbol of friendship and goodwil l between India and Japan, on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister for the G-7 summit from 19-21 May 2023.
• The 42 inches tall bronze bust has been sculpted by Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Ram Vanji Sutar. The bust site, adjacent to the Motoyasu Ri ver, is close to iconic A-Bomb Dome that is visited by thousands of people - locals and tourists alike - every day.
• The location has been chosen as a mark of solidarity for peace and non -violence. Mahatma Gandhi dedicated his life to peace and non-violence. The location truly resonates with the principles and life of Gandhiji, which continue to inspire the world and its leaders.

Mark Nicholas to become next president of MCC 

• Former England cricketer and veteran commentator Mark Nicholas has been elected as the next president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Nicholas will replace current president Stephen Fry and will assume responsibilities in October this year. 
• His appointment was announced at the Club’s Annual General Meeting. Nicholas, who was elected as a Member of MCC in 1981, is one of the most recognisable figures in televised cricket, leading coverage at the very top of the game across the world. Mark scored over 25,000 runs - including an unbeaten hundred for MCC at Lord’s against the 1985 Australians - and took 173 wickets in a professional career spanning over two decades. 
• He also captained Hampshire to four major trophies, three of which came in finals at Lord’s.

Michael Douglas to be honoured with Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival 2023 

• Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas is set to receive the highest honourary award, the Palme d'Or, at this year's 76th Cannes Film Festival. T
• he veteran actor will be felicitated for his contribution to cinema and successful career that spanned over five decades. 
• He is a 78-year-old actor well known for films like Fatal Attraction (1987), Wall Street (1987), Basic Instinct (1992), etc. In a statement, the organisers said that the festival will pay a special tribute to the 78 - year-old during the opening ceremony, scheduled for May 16. 
• As part of the tribute, a previously unreleased documentary, titled 'Michael Douglas, The Prodigal Son', will be shown on the festival site for two days - from May 14 to May 16.  

Ding Liren becomes China's first world chess champion 

• Paris: Ding Liren became China's first world chess champion on Sunday after a rapidplay tie-break victory over Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in Kazakhstan. Ding, 30, takes over as winner of the World Chess Championship from Norway's Magnus Carlsen, who chose not to defend his title after a 10-year reign. 
• He and Nepomniachtchi had finished on seven points each after the 14 first-stage games played in the Kazakh capital Astana.
•  Each won three, while the other eight ended in a draw. For the tie-break stage of the match, also in Astana.
• The contenders then played a tiebreak round, in which they had only 25 minutes to make their moves, plus an additional 10 seconds for each move played. 
• Ding is rated higher than Nepomniachtchi in the faster formats of the game but had played very little such chess in official competitions since January 2020.

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

• In keeping with its tradition of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, India as the first responder to natural disasters in the region started Operation Karuna to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) materials for the people of Myanmar affected by Cyclone Mocha, 
• Three ships INS Shivalik, INS Kamorta and INS Savitri brought around 40 tonnes of materials, and The fourth ship INS Gharial brought additional materials, mostly medicines and medical items, 
• The relief materials carried by the 4 ships have 14 pallets of essential items of use (edible and non-edible) and 16 medical pallets. 
• INS Gharial also contains portable medical container facility with the capacity for 120 bedded hospital. 
• The medical pallets contain first aid items, antibiotics, anti-histamines, analgesics, intravenous fluids for commonly spread infections and diseases.  

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni arrives in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India 

• King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni arrived in New Delhi this afternoon on a three - day visit to India from May 29 – 31. 
• Joined by a 27-member high-level official delegation, the Cambodian King arrived here in New Delhi on a three -day official visit and was received by MoS MEA Rajkumar Ranjan Singh. 
• The King will have bilateral meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. 
• He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning following which he will pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will call on the King. President Murmu will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary in the evening. 

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates new Parliament building 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building, seeking blessings from high priests of various 'adheenams' in Tamil Nadu with the holy sceptre in hand. He also installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber. 
• Dressed in a traditional attire, Mr. Modi walked into the Parliament premises from its Gate No. 1 and was welcomed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. 
• About: The New Parliament building - The new Parliament building, with a seating capacity of 1,272, is not only more spacious than the existing complex but is also equipped with state-of-the-art measures and cutting-edge technology. Some of the high-tech features in the new Parliament building include multimedia display units in front of each MP’s seat, biometrics for ease of voting, a digital language translation system and programmable microphone. 
• About: The Sengol - Made of silver and gold, the five-feet long sceptre was handed over by Lord Mountbatten to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, as a symbol of the transfer of power, according to the government. The Sengol, a symbol of governance in Tamil kingdoms of yore, was then kept for display in The Allahabad Museum.

MoCA launches UDAN 5.1, designed for helicopter routes 

• Following four successful rounds of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) and with the version 5.0 of the fifth round underway, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1 to further enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters. 
• In a first for RCS-UDAN, this round specifically focuses on helicopter route s, offering new opportunities for operators to expand their operations. 
• One notable change is that routes will now be permitted even if only one of the origin or destination locations is in a priority area, compared to the previous requirement of both points being in priority areas. 
• To make helicopter travel more affordable, airfare caps have been reduced by up to 25 percent for passengers.
• Additionally, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) caps for operators of both single and twin-engine helicopters have been significantly increased, aiming to enhance the financial viability of operating the awarded routes.  

UP government inaugurated online education program 'Pahal' for rural children 

• Chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra inaugurated an online rural education programme ‘Pahal’ at Government UP Sainik Inter College, Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow, 
• This programme has been prepared by the department of secondary education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur The initiative aims to provide educational opportunities to rural children who have limited access to quality education. 
• Pahal' is designed to bridge the education gap between rural and urban areas. Under this program, in the initial phase, free online education will be provided in 10 government secondary schools of the state. 
• Through these classes, students of rural areas will be able to get the latest information related to science and mathematics. 
• The Chief Secretary said that the online rural education initiative is a new and good beginning.
• About UP - Uttar Pradesh is a state located in the northern part of India, It is the most populous state in India as well as the most populous subdivision in the world, The state was officially established in 1950.

Telangana Home Minister launches 'SAHAS' an initiative towards making workplaces safer for women 

• In Telangana, SAHAS, an initiative towards making workplaces safer for women has been launched. The Home Minister Mohamood Ali formally launched the initiative. 
• SAHAS, which means Courage, is a programme that aims at strengthening the support ecosystem for women who face workplace sexual harassment. 
• Under the initiative, the SAHAS Microsite, SAHAS Sathi Chatbot, SAHAS Whatsapp Number, Forum and online support facilities were launched in Hyderabad. DGP Women Safety Wing, Shikha Goel, who conceptualised the SAHAS initiative, stated that the State has the largest percentage of working women in the country, and this could only be possible due to the positive atmosphere prevailing in Telangana. 
• She also stated that “SAHAS, is the first of its kind initiative in the country, involving a collaboration.

Uttar Pradesh to get its first Pharma Park 

• The first Pharma Park of the state will be built in Bundelkhand, which is one of the backward areas of Uttar Pradesh. 
• The state government has given green signal to the project of setting up a Pharma Park in Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand. For this, the state government will transfer 1500 hectares of land to the Animal Husbandry Department in Lalitpur district. 
• The state government will spend Rs 1560 crore on development works and providing necessary facilities to the investors in Lalitpur Pharma Park. 
• The state government has made necessary amendments in its policy for the establishment of Pharma Park in Uttar Pradesh and to encourage the industries set up here.
•  According to the revised policy, all the facilities and subsidies etc. will be given to the entrepreneurs setting up units in Pharma or Medical Device Park. 
• Entrepreneurs setting up units in Pharma Park will be given 100 per cent exemption in stamp duty on land purchase, along with capital subsidy, housing construction for workers, employment generation, etc., will be given subsidy by the government.

BMC to set up Asia's largest bio-gas plant in Mumbai, to treat 1,000 tonnes of wet waste daily 

• The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) are joining hands to set up Asia's largest bio-gas plant in Mumbai. 
• The upcoming plant will have the capacity to treat 1,000 tonnes of wet waste every day the proposed plant will recycle damp, organic, and degradable waste, which accounts for 3,500 tonnes of the 6,000 tonnes of solid waste generated daily in Mumbai. 
• The plant will be able to treat nearly one-third of the daily wet waste generated in the city. It is intended to repurpose the waste for a useful purpose. 
• The BMC will supply the segregated wet waste to the plant, which MGL will treat to produce gas and supply it back to the city. At present, the solid waste management (SWM) department of the BMC is operating five vehicles in each municipal ward to transport wet waste to scientific treatment centres. 

India and Russia explore accepting RuPay and Mir cards for easy payments 

• India and Russia have agreed to explore the possibility of accepting each other's payment cards, RuPay (India) and Mir (Russia), for hassle-free payments between the two countries. 
• During the latest meeting of the Internal Governmental Commissio n on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC -TEC), which was jointly chaired by External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, the decision was made. 
• Mutual acceptance of RuPay and Mir cards will facilitate transactions in Indian rupees and Russian rubles, making it easier for citizens of both countries to carry out crossborder payments. 
• In addition, the meeting also explored the possibility of interaction between India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Russia's Faster Payments System (FPS).

DRDO & Indian Navy conduct successful maiden test trial of indigenous Air Droppable Container 

• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘ADC-150’ from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa. 
• ADC-150’ is an indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container with 150 kg payload capacity. 
• The trial was conducted to enhance the naval operational logistics capabilities by providing quick response to meet the requirement of critical engineering stores to ships (under distress), which are deployed more than 2,000 kms from the coast. 
• It reduces the requirement of ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores. 
• Three DRDO laboratories - Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam; Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru - have been involved in the development of ADC-150 container. 
• The crucial flight clearance certification was given by Regional Center for Military Airworthiness (RCMA), Kanpur headed by Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC), Bengaluru.

Uttar Pradesh wins the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2023 

• Uttar Pradesh Hockey won the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2023 on Sunday after defeating Hockey Association of Odisha in the Final at the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. 
• Meanwhile, Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Madhya Pradesh to finish third in the competition. Uttar Pradesh Hockey won the tournament by defeating the Hockey Association of Odisha 7-1. Ujjwal Pal (6', 38', 47') converted three penalty corners, while Rahul Yadav (30'), Ketan Kushwaha (39'), Rahul Rajhbar (52'), and Team Captain Ajeet Yadav (54') each scored a goal to secure their victory. Deonath Nanwar (57') scored the only goal for the Hockey Association of Odisha. 
• The 3rd/4th place match saw Hockey Haryana claim a 4-2 comeback win over Hockey Madhya Pradesh. 
• Tushar Parmar (14') and Subhan Abid (22') scored to give Hockey Madhya Pradesh a comfortable lead, but Hockey Haryana fought back with goals from Sunil (29', 51'), Happy (37'), and Neeraj (58') to secure their victory.  

CSK win fifth IPL title beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets 

• Chennai Super Kings (CSK) claimed a record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) crown with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in a rain-affected but exciting match in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat. 
• After being asked to bat first, Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four. B Sai Sudharsan hit 96 in 47 balls. However, after rain interrupted play, the target for CSK was reset to 171 in 15 overs. IPL Purple Cap Winner 2023 - Mohammed Shami of Gujarat Titans won the Purple Cap in IPL 2023 with 28 wickets in 16 matches.
• IPL Orange Cap Winner 2023 - Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill won the Orange Cap in IPL 2023 with 890 runs in 17 matches. 

Sania Mirza roped in as Tennis Ambassador for Sony Sports Network 

• Sony Sports Network has announced the exclusive onboarding Sania Mirza as the Tennis Ambassador for Sony Sports Network, who will be seen as an expert panellist on the network. 
• Sony Sports Network is the home to three out of the fo ur Grand Slams, the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, US Open, along with the Davis Cup, making it the Home of Tennis in India. 
• Sania will now also serve up expert insights off the court on Sony Sports Network’s Extraaa Serve.
• The Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award and Padma Bhushan recipient will be seen on the Sony Sports Network starting with the Roland-Garros on 28th May 2023. Sony Sports Network has launched a special campaign called Home of Tennis. 
• The campaign showcases Sania Mirza, Sony Sports Network, and the three Grand Slams as a match made in heaven and celebrates her journey as she dons the hat of an expert after retiring from playing tennis.

Barcelona win 27th La Liga title 

• Barcelona secured their 27th La Liga title with a 4-2 triumph over rivals Espanyol, securing their first title since 2019. 
• This win was accomplished with goals from Robert Lewandowski, Alex Balde, and Jules Kounde, and within just 53 minutes, Barcelona had taken a commanding 4-0 lead at the RCDE Stadium. This was their first league title since Lionel Messi's highlighted exit at Camp Nou. 
• Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice to shine in Barcelona's title win at RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat. About: Barcelona FC - Futbol Club Barcelona, commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça, is a professional football club based in Barcelona , Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. 

SpaceX rocket sends Arabsat communications satellite into orbit 

• SpaceX,, The space exploration technologies corporation launched a big telecommunication satellite named Arabsat BADR-8, for Arabsat, a multinational consortium providing TV and video broadcast services across the Middle East. 
• The satellite weights nearly five-ton. SpaceX pushed back the launch time more than hour to wait for winds to subside, then gave the go-ahead to fuel the Falcon 9 rocket for liftoff at 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 UTC) Saturday. 
• The launch marked SpaceX’s 36th flight of the year, and the 26th orbital launch attempt so far in 2023 from Florida’s Space Coast. 
• The nearly 10,000 pound (4.5-metric ton) Badr 8 communications satellite was closed up inside the Falcon 9’s nose cone for liftoff Saturday. Built by Airbus Defense and Space, the Badr 8 satellite, also known as Arabsat 7B, will provide C-band and Ku-band communications services to replace capacity currently offered by the aging 15 -year-old Badr 6 satellite in geostationary orbit. 

IBM and NASA Collaborate to Convert Satellite Data into High-Resolution Maps Using AI 

• IBM in collaboration with NASA unveiled a new geospatial foundation model designed to convert satellite data into high-resolution maps of floods, fires, and other landscape changes to reveal the planet’s past and hint at its future. 
• The model watsonx.ai geospatial offering is an artificial intelligence (AI) technology developed by IBM. 
• The platform’s potential applications include estimating climate-related risks to agriculture, infrastructure, and buildings, assessing forests for carbon -offset initiatives, and assisting businesses in developing strategies to address and adapt to climate change by employing predictive models. 
• The goal of the NASA and IBM collaboration is to provide an easier way for researchers to analyse and draw insights from large NASA datasets related to Earth processes. 
• This collaboration is part of NASA’s Open-Source Science Initiative (OSSI), a commitment to building an inclusive, transparent, and collaborative open science community over the next decade. 

Tina Turner 'Queen of rock 'n' roll' passes away 

• Tina Turner, the pioneering rock’n’roll star who became a pop behemoth in the 1980s, passes away at the age of 83, She died peacefully after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, Turner began her career in the 1950s during the early years of rock 'n' roll and evolved into an MTV phenomenon. 
• About: Tina Turner - Tina Turner was an American-born Swiss singer. Known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before launching a successful career as a solo performer. 
• Turner began her career with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in 1957. Turner also helded a Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000 in 1988) for a solo performer. Turner won a total of 12 Grammy Awards. 
• These awards include eight competitive Grammy Awards; she shares the record (with Pat Benatar) for most awards given for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. 
• Three of her recordings, “River Deep – Mountain High” (1999), “Proud Mary” (2003), and “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (2012) are in the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

Renowned Bengali author Samaresh Majumdar passes away at 79 

• Sahitya Akademi Award Winning Bengali Author who in known for portraying the tumultuous Naxalaite period of the 1970s, passes away at a private hospital in Kolkata, he was 79. 
• Samaresh Majumdar was suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and was undergoing treatment at the hospital for over a month. Born on March 10, 1944, novelist Majumdar is best known for his ‘Animesh’ series. 
• He was first published in the year 1967- a novel named ‘Dour’ (Run). One of his works was even was adapted into the 2013 film ‘Arjun-Kalimpong E Sitaharan’. Majumdar is also known for ‘Uttoradhikar’, ‘Kaalpurush’, ‘Satkahan’, and ‘Adventures of Detective Arjun’. 
• The writer-poet has innumerable accolades under his belt, including Sahitya Akademi Award which he won for ‘Kalbela’ in 1984. 
• Apart from this, he has been conferred the Anand Award and Bankim Award. In 2018, the West Bengal government honoured him with the 'Banga Bibhushan ' award.

CAG Girish Chandra Murmu re-elected External Auditor of WHO 

• Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu has been reelected as the external auditor of the World Health Organization (WHO) for a four-year term from 2024 to 2027.
• CAG is already holding this position in WHO for a four-year term from 2019 to 2023. 
• The present election was held on May 29, 2023 in the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, where the CAG of India was reelected with an overwhelming majority (114 out of 156 votes) in the first round of voting itself, CAG’s appointment is a recognition of its standing among the international community as well as its professionalism, high standards, global audit experience an d strong national credentials 
• About: External Auditor of WHO - The External Auditor of the World Health Organization (WHO) is an independent auditor who is appointed by the World Health Assembly (WHA) to audit the financial statements and operations of WHO. 
• The External Auditor is responsible for providing an independent and objective opinion on the financial statements of WHO, and for reporting on any significant findings or recommendations. 
• The External Auditor is also responsible for auditing WHO’s compliance with its financial regulations and with the terms of its financial assistance agreements. 

R Dinesh takes over as CII president for 2023-24 

• The National Council of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) elected R Dinesh, executive vice-chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, as the president of CII for 2023 - 24. 
• He takes over from Sanjiv Bajaj, chairman and managing director, Bajaj Finserv Limited. TNS Dinesh is a fourth-generation member of the TVS family. 
• He founded TVS Supply Chain Solutions (formerly known as TVS Logistics) in 1995 and steered the company into a billion-dollar organisation. 
• Under his leadership, the company also expanded into more 50 countries. 
• As per a statement by CII, Sanjiv Puri, the Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited, will assume the role of President-Designate of CII for the year 2023-24. Rajiv Memani, Chairman of the India region of Ernst & Young (EY), a global professional services organisation, has been appointed as the Vice President.

Linda Yaccarino the new CEO of Twitter 

• Elon Musk has confirmed that Linda Yaccarino is the new Twitter CEO who he has appointed. Musk further revealed that Yaccarino will primarily focus on business operations while Musk will focus more on product design and new technology. 
• Yaccarino will join as Twitter CEO officially in six weeks time, About Linda Yaccarino - Linda Yaccarino is a notable figure in the media industry. 
• Yaccarino has been with NBCUniversal for more than 20 years and has held a variety of leadership positions. Currently, she is responsible for all of NBCUniversal's global advertising and partnerships businesses. 
• As Musk previously confirmed that the new Twitter CEO will join in 6 weeks from now. 
• It is also worth noting that Yaccarino is the first female Twitter CEO and also the first to come from a non-tech background. All ex-Twitter CEOs were from a tech background. 

Indian origin Ajay Banga set to be next President of World Bank 

• Indian origin Ajay Banga was confirmed as the next President of the World Bank. The World Bank’s 25-member executive board last night elected former Mastercard CEO to a five-year term as president. 
• The Indian-born finance and development expert was charged with revamping the lender to tackle climate change and other global crises. Banga, 63, was nominated for the post by United States President Joe Biden in late February and was the sole contender to replace departing World Bank chief David Malpass, an economist and former US Treasury official who served in the Trump administration. 
• He will start the new job on June 2. Banga’s election came after World Bank board members interviewed him for four hours on Monday. The decision came in a vote by 24 of the board’s members, with Russia abstaining. 

International Day for Biological Diversity 

• The International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated on May 22, is a global observance that highlights the importance of biodiversity and its crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. 
• This day serves as a reminder of the incredible diversity of species, ecosystems, and genetic resources that make our planet unique. 
• It is a time to reflect on the web of life and recognise the intricate connections between humans and the natural world. 
• History - In 2000, the UN General Assembly officially proclaimed May 22 to be the International Day for Biodiversity (IDB). 
• The date was chosen to celebrate the adoption of the initial text of the CBD, on May 22, 1992. Thanks to its efforts, t he Convention has participants from nearly all countries. 
• Theme - The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2023 is “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity.” 
• This theme reflects the urgent need to move beyond commitments and translate them into tangible actions to restore and protect biodiversity. 

International Museum Day 

• International Museum Day is observed on May 18 every year since 1977. The day represents a unique moment for the international museum community. 
• Different events and activities are planned on this day and go on through the entire week or the weekend. More than 37,000 museums from 158 countries and territories participated in an event organised last year. 
• History - To bring awareness about the importance of museums, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) created International Museum Day in 1977. 
• The International Council of Museums is a global association of museums and museum professionals who promote public awareness, conservation, and education. 
• Theme - The theme of International Museum Day this year is "Museums, Sustainability and Well-being". Calling museums a key contributor to the well-being and to the sustainable development of our communities. 

International Day of Families 

• International Day of Families is celebrated on May 15 to raise awareness of the importance of families and their role in society. 
• The day focuses on the important role that families play in our society while also highlighting the issues faced by them.
•  The International Day of Families is a global observance that is celebrated by countries around the world. 
• The occasion is celebrated by conducting various events and activities that bring families together to celebrate their diversity and strengthen their unique bond History - The United Nations adopted a resolution in 1994 establishing the International Day of Families to celebrate the institution of family and to raise awareness regarding the issues faced by families. 
• Theme - International Day of Families has been observed annually, with a different theme each year. The theme of International Day of Families 2023 is ‘Demographic Trends and Families’. The theme of last year's International Day of Families was ‘Families and Urbanisation’. 

International Nurse Day

• The International Council of Nurses has dedicated May 12 as International Nurse Day to honour the contribution of nurses to society and acknowledge the role they play in the overall healthcare system. 
• Nurses play a crucial role in providing medical care and their role during COVID-19 has inspired humankind. 
• The day marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale also known as “The Lady With the Lamp,” was a British nurse, social reformer and statistician best known as the founder of modern nursing. 
• She was the founder of St. Thomas’s Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860. The International Council of Nurses has dedicated May 12 as International Nurse Day to celebrate Florence Nightingale's birthday. 
• The Council celebrated International Nurses Day for the first time in 1965. Every year, a different component of nursing or the healthcare system is highlighted through the theme of International Nurses Day. 
• This year, the theme of International Nurses Day 2023 is "Our Nurses. Our Future."