19 May 2023 Current Affairs – The Day’s Top News | GKSERIES

Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 19 May 2023, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.

So, here is the Top News of the Day for 19 May 2023 to help you prepare the Latest Current Affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 19 May 2023

World Aids Vaccine Day Or Hiv Vaccine Awareness Day 2023

World AIDS Vaccine Day 2023

World AIDS Vaccine Day: World AIDS Vaccine Day is observed on May 18, highlighting the necessity of developing a vaccine for the incurable disease. This day, also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, not only raises awareness but also pays respect to the hardworking scientists and researchers working to create an HIV/AIDS vaccine.

Significance of World AIDS Vaccine Day

According to the World Health Organisation, HIV has claimed the lives of 40.1 million people worldwide. Globally, HIV transmission is occurring, with certain nations reporting an increase in new infections. Despite the absence of a cure for HIV infection, appropriate and efficient treatments and healthcare can significantly extend the lifespan and improve the well-being of individuals living with HIV.

History of World AIDS Vaccine Day

In a speech delivered on May 18, 1997, at Morgan State University in Maryland, former US President Bill Clinton emphasized the necessity of a genuinely effective preventive HIV vaccine to combat the transmission and ultimately eliminate HIV. In recognition of President Clinton’s address, May 18 was designated as World AIDS Vaccine Day, with its inaugural observance taking place the following year in 1998.

What is HIV infection?

HIV is a virus that attacks and weakens the immune system, making people more vulnerable to diseases such as tuberculosis, certain infections, and even cancer. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The transmission of HIV occurs through the exchange of certain body fluids such as breast milk, semen, blood, and vaginal fluids. However, it is important to note that HIV does not spread through activities like kissing, hugging, or sharing food. Effective treatment and prevention of HIV can be achieved through antiretroviral therapy (ART). By undergoing ART, individuals can achieve viral suppression, which prevents them from transmitting the virus to others. Ensuring early access to this therapy is crucial in effectively curtailing the spread of HIV.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• World Health Organization Head: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus;
• World Health Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;
• World Health Organization Founded: 7 April 1948;
• World Health Organization Parent organization: United Nations.

KV Viswanathan, Prashant Mishrato Take Oath As Supreme Court Judges

After the Central Government approved the nomination of the attorneys, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and senior advocate KV Viswanathan will be sworn in as Supreme Court judges. Their names were recommended to the Centre by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud.

Who is KV Viswanathan?

KV Viswanathan is a senior attorney with over 30 years of Supreme Court experience. He has testified in issues involving constitutional law, criminal law, and commercial law. He is also a member of the Bar Council of India and the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Who is Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra?

Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra is the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 2013 and elevated as its Chief Justice in 2021. He has also served as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court.

According to the five-member Collegium, the Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges but is now operating with 32. Two Supreme Court judges – Dinesh Maheshwari and MR Shah – retired recently. Four more vacancies are going to arise by the second week of July and the working strength of judges will further come down, the collegium noted as it recommended the names of Viswanathan and Mishra.

Ministry Of Ayush And Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare Collaborate For “Integrative Health” Policy

Introduction:

The Ministries of Ayush and Health and Family Welfare have established a collaborative commitment to prioritise “Integrative Health” for public well-being. This announcement was made at the National Ayush Mission Conclave, a two-day event inaugurated by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Cabinet Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways. The conclave was attended by esteemed guests, including Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare.

Why the Scheme is in the News?

The National Ayush Mission (NAM) and the conclave have gotten a lot of attention thanks to the Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare working together. This partnership reflects a shared vision to integrate traditional systems of medicine into the mainstream healthcare system, providing accessible and quality Ayush healthcare services across the nation.

Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Collaborate for “Integrative Health” Policy

Aim:

The National Ayush Mission’s goal is to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of Ayush healthcare services across India. By integrating traditional medicine systems with modern healthcare practices, the mission aims to promote holistic well-being and address the diverse healthcare needs of the population.

Objectives:

1. Preservation and promotion of India’s traditional systems of medicine.
2. Integration of Ayush healthcare into the mainstream healthcare system.
3. Enhancing the availability and accessibility of Ayush healthcare services.
4. Improving the quality of Ayush healthcare through capacity building and upgradation of Ayush Health Wellness Centers (AHWCs).
5. Strengthening the education ecosystem in Ayush to support public health initiatives.
6. Facilitating research and ensuring quality assurance in Ayush public healthcare.

Vision:

The vision of the National Ayush Mission is to create a robust healthcare system that combines the strengths of traditional medicine systems with modern healthcare practices. The mission envisions a comprehensive and holistic approach to healthcare by merging Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (together known as Ayush), with a strong emphasis on preventive care, well-being, and personalised therapy.

Goal:

The primary goal of the National Ayush Mission is to establish Ayush Health Wellness Centers (AHWCs) across the country, in alignment with the Ayushman Bharat scheme. These centers will provide accessible and quality healthcare services, including consultations, therapies, and medicines, based on traditional systems of medicine. The mission aims to improve the health and wellness of individuals, families, and communities.

Funding:

The National Ayush Mission operates as a centrally sponsored scheme, with support from the Union Government. The operationalization of 12,500 Ayush Health Wellness Centers (AHWCs) has been approved by the Union Cabinet, wherein existing Ayush Dispensaries/Health Sub-centers will be upgraded by the respective State/UT Governments. This phased implementation will ensure the availability of Ayush healthcare services to a larger population.

How does the Mission Work?

The National Ayush Mission focuses on collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Ayush, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and the state governments. It aims to enhance budget absorption, institutionalize execution, and strengthen the supply of medicines to Ayush Health Wellness Centers (AHWCs). The mission also emphasizes capacity building for Ayush practitioners, upgradation of AHWCs, and integration of technology for research and quality assurance in Ayush public healthcare.

Hinduja Group Chairman Sp Hinduja Passes Away

Srichand Parmanand Hinduja, the eldest of the four Hinduja brothers and the chairman of the Hinduja Group, died in London on Monday. He had been ill for some time. He was 87. They grew their family business, which includes commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland and private bank IndusInd, to several businesses across 38 countries, in sectors such as oil lubricants, chemicals, energy and IT. The group employs more than 200,000 people.

The Hinduja family patriarch and his brothers, Gopichand and Prakash, were accused of receiving nearly SEK 81 million in illegal commissions to help Swedish gunmaker AB Bofors secure an Indian government contract. A court had however exonerated them.

About the Srichand Parmanand Hinduja

Srichand Parmanand Hinduja was born in 1935 to a Hindu family in Pakistan. Following India’s partition, he relocated to India with his family in 1947. He started his business career in the early 1960s with his brothers Gopichand and Prakash. The Hinduja Group is a multinational conglomerate with interests in a wide range of industries, including banking, finance, manufacturing, and media. The firm is one of India’s largest private conglomerates, and Fortune magazine ranks it among the top 500 companies in the world. SP Hinduja was a visionary leader who helped to transform the Hinduja Group into a global powerhouse. He was also a philanthropist who donated millions of dollars to charitable causes. He will be remembered as a great businessman, a visionary leader, and a philanthropist.

Nepali Climber Makes Record, Climbs Mount Everest For 27th Time

Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa summited Mount Everest for the 27th time, recovering the global record for the most summits of the world’s highest mountain. The 53-year-old had held the title since 2018, when he ascended Everest for the 22nd time, passing the previous mark he shared with two other Sherpa climbers, both of whom have since retired.

About the Kami Rita Sherpa:

• Kami Rita Sherpa, a guide for more than two decades, first summited the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition. Since then, he has climbed Everest nearly every year, leading the first rope-fixing crew to open the path to the world’s highest point multiple times.
• Dubbed “the Everest man”, Sherpa was born in 1970 in Thame, a village in the Himalayas renowned as a breeding ground for successful mountaineers.
• As a child, Sherpa saw his father and then his brother don climbing gear and join expeditions as mountain guides, and he soon followed in their footsteps.
• In 2019, he reached the summit twice in the span of six days.
• Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm.
• This year, authorities awarded 478 permits to international climbers, with the $11,000 charge being part of the total fees for a summit ranging from $45,000 to $200,000.
• Since most will need a guide, more than 900 people, a record, will try to summit this season, which runs until early June.
• Nepali guides, usually ethnic Sherpas from the valleys around Everest, are considered the backbone of the climbing industry and bear huge risks to carry equipment and food, fix ropes and repair ladders.

Govt Shuffles Cabinet: Kiren Rijiju Exited As Union Law Minister

Govt shuffles cabinet: Kiren Rijiju exited as Union Law Minister

Kiren Rijiju has resigned as Union Law Minister and will now head the Ministry of Earth Sciences. In addition to his present ministries, Arjun Ram Meghwal has been assigned the autonomous role of Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice. Rijiju took over as the Law and Justice Minister on July 8, 2021. Prior to this, he served as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports from May 2019 to July 2021. Union Minister Jitendra Singh was holding charge of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has been pleased to direct the following reallocation of portfolios among Ministers in the Union Council of Ministers :

• The portfolio of Ministry of Earth Sciences be assigned to Shri Kiren Rijiju.
• Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State be assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios, in place of Shri Kiren Rijiju.”

Kiren Rijiju is an Indian politician from Arunachal Pradesh who has served in various ministerial positions in the Government of India. Rijiju’s past portfolios include:

• Minister of State for Home Affairs (2014-2019)
• Minister of State for Minority Affairs (2019-2021)
• Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports (2019-2021)
• Cabinet Minister of Law and Justice (2021-2023)

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran Conferred With France’s Highest Civilian Award

Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran has been named a Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur by France for his achievements to strengthening India-France trade relations. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna gave the award to Chandrasekaran on behalf of the French President.

Earlier this year, Tata Group-owned Air India signed a multibillion-dollar deal with Airbus to purchase 250 aircraft from the company, including 210 A320 neo jets and 40 A350 planes. Last year in December, Tata Technologies inaugurated its innovation centre in Toulouse, France, to cater for the new-age product engineering and digital requirements of the global aerospace and defence sector.

About the National Order of the Legion of Honour

The National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur) is France’s highest civilian award. Napoleon Bonaparte established it in 1802 and it is awarded to French nationals and foreigners for extraordinary contribution to France in military, civil, and cultural issues. The Legion of Honour is a symbol of France’s national pride and is a testament to the country’s commitment to excellence. It is an honor that is bestowed upon those who have made significant contributions to France and to the world.

The order has five grades:

• Grand Cross
• Grand Officer
• Commander
• Officer
• Knight

G20’s Riig Conference On Scientific Challenges And Opportunities

G20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Conference on Scientific Challenges and Opportunities for sustainable blue economy held at Diu on 18 May 2023.

The main theme of RIIG during India’s G-20 Presidency in 2023 is “Research and Innovation for an Equitable Society”.

Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar has chaired the G20 RIIG conference.

BJP Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria Passes Away

Former Union minister and the BJP’s Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria passed away at 71. He has served as minister of state in the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment from May 2019 till July 2021.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Ambala in 1999, 2014, and 2019. He also served as the party’s Haryana unit chief from 2000 to 2003. He was also a minister in the Haryana government.

UNEP Suggests Measures To Reduce 80% Of World’s Plastic Pollution By 2040

According to the UNEP report, ‘Turning Off The Tap’, plastic pollution across the world can be reduced by up to 80% by 2040, if companies and countries make policy and market shifts using existing technologies.

The magnitude and nature of changes required to end plastic pollution and to create a circular economy to replace the widespread use of single-use plastics and their inappropriate disposal.

About 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year.